‘WE TRIED TO TELL YOU THAT!’ INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

in southern Vanuatu tell about the origins of the black (Melanesian) and white (European) peoples. In one variant of one of these, the spiritual ancestor of the Tannese Melanesians emerged from the island’s volcano holding a bunch of sacred and agricultural leaves in his hand, indicating knowledge of and mastery over nature. Shortly afterwards, a light-skinned ancestor emerged from the volcano and disappeared overseas. This ancestral White Man held in his hand a hammer (in other versions, a steel axe or chisel) indicating knowledge of and mastery over technology. Certain Tannese people today may still refer to this story to explain their relative lack of interest in modern technology – and the modern world’s renowned long-term lack of interest in, and respect for, our natural environment.