��CIH LMU Munich, Advanced Module Climate Change and Health-Initiating and Leading Transformational Change��Indigenous Knowledge and Insights- Locally engaging the Endorois Indigenous Community in Baringo County, Kenya on Climate Change and Health��These slides were generously donated to the SOPHEA project by�� � Raphael Kimosop –Baringo, Kenya� 12/04/2024

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Who are we?

• We are an indigenous, minority and marginalized community in Kenya, with a distinct community by virtue of our socio-cultural practices. i.e. traditional marriages, circumcision ceremonies, inheritance, building of homesteads and general naming of our children, clan totems, generational age set governance systems and linguistic dialect.
• We number about 60,000 people spread across Baringo County.
• Practicing unique traditions, they retain social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live

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OUR REGALIA

OUR HOME-AT THE HEART OF BIODIVERSITY

RESOURCES WITHIN ENDOROIS COMMUNITY

• Herbal medicine e.g. Aloe Vera plants, maerua species, Acacia melifera etc.
• Wild animals-Birds (lesser flamingos), Greater Kudus, antelopes, Tortoise Elephants, leopard, Lion etc.
• Lake Bogoria and the resources it hosts
• Rivers-Perkerra, Waseges, Arabal and Molok rivers
• Honey (Bee hives)
• Livestock e.g. Cattle, Goats. Sheep, Donkeys etc
• Traditional/Local fruits- Ariek, Muchukek, Muyeng’ik, etc.
• Minerals and Precious stones e.g. Ruby, Diatomite etc.
• Forests e.g Mochongoi, (Ol-arabel per colonial government records)
• Kipchuchumo,Mokope and siginwo in Bekibon
• Swamps such as Kiborgoch, Kesubo and Kasiela 

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OUR TRADITIONAL FOOD

• Being a pastoral community, Endorois community; engage in bee keeping for production of honey
• Harvesting of white ants
• Gather wild edibles such as fruits, (Tamarindus indica) berries
• Get the tubers from the surrounding forests and grasslands.
• eat among others, sorghum, millet, meat, blood, milk and honey otherwise known as slow food.
• The honey was consumed as food and medicine (as an antidote for poisonous substances).
• The community also eat wild fruits and nuts such as Tamarind fruits which are known to be Cancer Healer, anti bacterial

INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

• We hold and use a variety of traditional knowledge. Traditional knowledge is held and used by individuals, within families and within the community as a whole for purposes such as traditional and cultural purposes.
• Some of the knowledge is inherited within families and also passed down by elders to the younger generations to inform them about our cultural heritage, ways of life and the importance of our natural resources. For the Herbalists, and the Participatory Scenario planning (PSP)
• Despite historical, social, and economic exclusion, many the Endorois community has enduringly used indigenous and traditional knowledge (ITK)-derived coping mechanisms passed down through generations.

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OUR AGE SET

CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH :

• Climate change is a pressing global issue that significantly impacts both our environment and human health. It is manifested by extreme weather events like droughts, floods, storms, and heatwaves
• Over time the community in the county has been responding the effects of climate change in different ways.
• Health Opportunities:
• Highlight the health benefits of climate actions. For instance, transitioning to clean energy sources improves air quality and reduces respiratory diseases. Stoves, solar etc
• Recognize that addressing climate change is an opportunity to build a resilient and inclusive global economy that prioritizes health and well-being

CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH :

• Awareness and Advocacy:
• Raise awareness about the health threats posed by climate change. Educate the public, policymakers, and health professionals (Community Health Workers) about the urgent need for action.
• Evidence-Based Solutions:
• Offer solutions based on scientific evidence to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. This includes promoting sustainable practices, reducing emissions conservation agriculture (Minimum tillage), and protecting vulnerable populations. E.g Loboi Supportive group,

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH :

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• Collaboration and Adaptation:
• Collaborate across sectors (governments, businesses, civil society, universities) to accelerate progress in areas like adaptation, energy transitions, and finance.
• Adapt health systems to cope with climate-related challenges, such as extreme weather events, vector-borne and water borne diseases, and food security issues.
• Global Cooperation:
• Participate in international forums like the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to advocate for climate action. Endorois Women Network (EIWEN)
• The Endorois community therefore undertakes to engage in climate change adaptation and mitigation actions to shield the community from the impacts of climate change.

OUR INVOLVEMENT PLANETARY HEALTH EASTERN AFRICA HUB

TRANSFORMATIONS OVERTIME

• Indigenous Peoples, play a crucial role in sustaining around world’s remaining biodiversity. Despite facing political, economic, and racial marginalization, as well as severe health inequities, Indigenous Peoples have resiliently preserved their cultures. Their close connections to land, water, and ecosystems, however, expose them to increasing vulnerability from the effects of climate change.

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CHRONOLOGIES

• Overtime, the Endorois community have held their socio-cultural ties pristine.
• In the past the locals used to treat ailments using:
• Ashes for stomach upsets, Treatment of drinking water and Seed preservation.
• Medicine plants/Trees for treating ailments (Aloe, Acacia melifera, Tarminds etc)
• Some plants were used as furmicants during traditional weeding and chasing away mosquitoes at night.
• Red ore was also to smear the bodies of the initiates during initiation ceremony to protect the initiates from the adverse cold and mosquito bites
• Feeding on traditional foods derived from local cereals like Millet, sorghum and local vegetable like black night shade was a common practice.
• Sacrifice and rituals were done to appease the ancestors just incase there is breakout of livestock and or human diseases. Done in the designated shrines.

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CURRENTLY

• Traditionally pastoralists, the Endorois have diversified their livelihoods by learning to grow crops, encouraging rich biodiversity around Lake Bogoria.
• Since then, the local Life styles has changed through;
• The emergence of hospital and professional medics have improved peoples health and well being.
• The technological advancement has since reduced the prevalence of diseases more especially air borne-Clean energy cooking stoves, Improved livestock production methods has reduced the production of methane (GHGs)
• Agroforestry-as an alternative livelihood has improved on the nutritional value among the young one and lactating women (Fruits and Food crops)

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CONCLUSION

• There is need for appreciating Indigenous Peoples’ unique way of life and leveraging their traditional knowledge can enhance our collective response to climate change and promote better health outcomes.
• More research should be done together with these communities since there is alot of knowledge to learn from them

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THANK YOU FOR BEING MY AUDIENCE