Indigenous climate mobilities governance: The case of the Vaitupu-Kioa international migration route

Relocation, resettlement and migration are increasingly important considerations for populations where territory is at risk of uninhabitability from the impacts of climate change. State-led climate mobilities governance is currently dominant in addressing uninhabitability risk. However, state-led climate mobilities governance often emphasizes economic and infrastructure outcomes, and is generally poor at nurturing cultural resilience. Indigenous climate mobilities governance is relatively unexplored and yet may be crucial in achieving cultural resilience in Indigenous communities facing possible uninhabitability of Indigenous territory. Existing Indigenous governance systems can, it is hypothesized, support culturally resilient climate mobilities. Thus, this Indigenous-led study aims to identify opportunities for Indigenous climate mobilities governance, through an empirical case-study of Indigenous mobility across the Tuvalu-Fiji international border in the Pacific Islands. Using an Indigenous research methodology, the study provides insights on self-determined Indigenous mobilities governance, demonstrating capacity for Indigenous governance of climate mobilities by Tuvalu’s other Indigenous groups to Kioa island in Fiji. We find that Kioa residents are largely open to Kioa having a future role as a climate mobility destination for other Indigenous communities in Tuvalu. Vaitupu residents are also largely supportive, although have some reservations about opening Kioa to other Indigenous communities in Tuvalu. We conclude that Indigenous climate mobilities governance guided by the Tuvaluan concept of fale pili (looking after your neighbour) has significant potential for cultural resilience for Tuvalu’s eight Indigenous communities. Further, Indigenous climate mobilities governance should be a priority for future research in other contexts.