As a result of decades of extractive industrial development and increased extreme weather events, communities in Coastal Louisiana in the United States are now facing questions of if and how to resettle in the face of climate change. This discussion examines the sensemaking and sensegiving processes associated with resettlement of the Isle de Jean Charles Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians of Louisiana. For the tribe, the process of relocation has spanned decades, while other stakeholders have entered into this process at different stages of resettlement and for varying amounts of time. Over time, the processes of sensemaking and sensegiving suggest an ordering information and then communicating this interpretation among individuals and groups to activate different frames of what resettlement means in the face of climate change. Elise Harrington assesses how different stakeholders constructed different meanings or multiple interpretations of the Isle de Jean Charles resettlement and how competing frames of this relocation differ based on temporality, problem definition, project goals, and eligibility criteria. Harrington uses semi-structured interviews with project stakeholders (tribal members, state government, planning organizations, and non-governmental organizations) to understand the development and contestation of the framing of resettlement.

Kaltura

About the Speaker

Elise Harrington

Elise Harrington is an assistant professor in the Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy area. She studies infrastructure, energy, and environmental policy-making with a focus on how interpersonal relationships and social organization influence the design and implementation of policies, programs, and services in response to climate change mitigation and adaptation activities.

Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium

The Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium series offers informal lectures and discussions on current research projects by ICGC Scholars, affiliated faculty, visiting scholars, and practitioners. These events are open to the public. Guests are welcome to bring their lunches and eat during the sessions.