Traditional Kalinago cassava bread is made at Eezee Side Bakery, one of the small businesses devastated by Hurricane Maria which has rebuilt and contributes to the local economy and cultural heritage. Credit CANARI.
Ms. Leotaud conducted research on how climate (in)justice is understood and experienced by the local and Indigenous communities in the Caribbean and the actions affected groups can take to seek climate justice. Although these groups have not caused climate change they are among those most impacted by, and least able to respond to its effects. Her research focused on the intensification of hurricanes as one of the significant effects of climate change being experienced in the Caribbean, through a case study of the impacts of Category 5 Hurricane Maria in 2017 on the Kalinago Territory in Dominica. She explored how the Kalinago Indigenous People understand and experience the impacts of hurricanes (their vulnerability); how they experience and envision responses to hurricanes (their understandings of resilience); and how they seek to achieve these visions (their capabilities to pursue justice).
Read full press release here.