*With their ancestral home sinking, Guna families grapple with loss, cultural identity, and new beginnings in Isberyala.*
**Indigenous Communities Transform as Climate Change Displaces Guna People**
**Indigenous Communities Transform as Climate Change Displaces Guna People**
*Relocation of the Guna from the island of Gardi Sugdub highlights both challenges and adaptation in the face of rising sea levels.*
In an emotional farewell, Delfino Davies reflects, “We left pieces of our life behind,” as the once vibrant Gardi Sugdub island falls silent, now devoured by encroaching sea levels. The Guna community, deeply rooted on this small island in Panama, is the first to be relocated due to climate change, with scientists predicting complete uninhabitability by 2050.
"The sounds of laughter and music are fading," says Delfino, whose family faces an uncertain future following the relocation. In June, approximately 1,000 residents abandoned their wooden and tin homes for a newly constructed settlement, Isberyala, on the mainland, leaving behind a mere 100 inhabitants.
For many, the separation from friends and familiar surroundings is heartbreaking. "Children cry over their friends' absence,” Delfino laments, illustrating the emotional toll of leaving their history behind. As he takes care of his small museum, he emphasizes his connection to the ocean — a connection he fears is threatened by relocation. “We are losing our essence,” he claims.
The island has witnessed the Guna for generations, originally seeking refuge from historical conflicts and colonization. Yet, as rising sea levels threaten their unique culture, they now confront a new reality shaped by climate change.
Accompanied by scientists’ urgent warnings, Gardi Sugdub's conditions have deteriorated, with rising tides encroaching on homes. Magdalena Martínez, who also left the island, expresses her sorrow: "You miss your friends and the sea; it was our home."
Despite the challenges, Isberyala offers new opportunities. With roofed community structures built using funds from the Panamanian government, the sense of stability is palpable. Tito López, the community leader, reassures, "Our culture remains strong," as students engage in traditional music and dance in the new school nearby.
Though conditions in Isberyala are improved, crucial services like healthcare remain limited, leading to hardships as families strive to adapt to their new environment. Residents are optimistic for the future, often participating in sports and sharing cultural traditions, while grappling with the nostalgia of their lost island home.
As the world watches, experts note that Guna's experience could serve as a blueprint for other communities facing similar existential threats. “Learning from these cases,” concludes Erica Bower, "will be vital for responsive actions to climate displacement globally." While Guna's journey has just begun, their resilience and cultural tenacity will guide their path ahead.
"The sounds of laughter and music are fading," says Delfino, whose family faces an uncertain future following the relocation. In June, approximately 1,000 residents abandoned their wooden and tin homes for a newly constructed settlement, Isberyala, on the mainland, leaving behind a mere 100 inhabitants.
For many, the separation from friends and familiar surroundings is heartbreaking. "Children cry over their friends' absence,” Delfino laments, illustrating the emotional toll of leaving their history behind. As he takes care of his small museum, he emphasizes his connection to the ocean — a connection he fears is threatened by relocation. “We are losing our essence,” he claims.
The island has witnessed the Guna for generations, originally seeking refuge from historical conflicts and colonization. Yet, as rising sea levels threaten their unique culture, they now confront a new reality shaped by climate change.
Accompanied by scientists’ urgent warnings, Gardi Sugdub's conditions have deteriorated, with rising tides encroaching on homes. Magdalena Martínez, who also left the island, expresses her sorrow: "You miss your friends and the sea; it was our home."
Despite the challenges, Isberyala offers new opportunities. With roofed community structures built using funds from the Panamanian government, the sense of stability is palpable. Tito López, the community leader, reassures, "Our culture remains strong," as students engage in traditional music and dance in the new school nearby.
Though conditions in Isberyala are improved, crucial services like healthcare remain limited, leading to hardships as families strive to adapt to their new environment. Residents are optimistic for the future, often participating in sports and sharing cultural traditions, while grappling with the nostalgia of their lost island home.
As the world watches, experts note that Guna's experience could serve as a blueprint for other communities facing similar existential threats. “Learning from these cases,” concludes Erica Bower, "will be vital for responsive actions to climate displacement globally." While Guna's journey has just begun, their resilience and cultural tenacity will guide their path ahead.
