LEWETON CULTURAL VILLAGE, vanuatu
With collaborator Sandy Sur
Facing rising seawaters, increasingly destructive cyclones, and environmental damage caused by the massive cruise liners that dock nearby, the ni-Vanuatu community of Leweton (see map) is on the front line of the global climate and environmental crises.
location of leweton village on the island of espiritu santo, Vanuatu. Map: catherine grant/stepmap
Seeking to grow the community’s economic and cultural resilience, cultural elder Sandy Sur founded the Leweton Cultural Village, a tourism enterprise that doubles as a way to maintain and promote local kastom (traditional) practices amid rapid change. Its key attraction is Etëtung, or Women’s Water Music, a striking performance tradition with deep connections to the local natural environment.
As the profile of Leweton Cultural Village grows, Etëtung is proving a way for the people of Leweton to participate in local, regional, and international climate discussions. This case study traces how one small-island community is leveraging its cultural practices, through tourism, to advance cultural sustainability and climate justice goals.
