New Books in Buddhist Studies Karine Gagné, "Caring for Glaciers: Land, Animals, and Humanity in the Himalayas" (U Washington Press, 2019)
Nov 9, 2025
Karine Gagné, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and author, dives into the intricate relationships among land, animals, and glaciers in the Himalayas. She discusses how climate change and militarization threaten traditional lifestyles in Ladakh. Gagné shares insights from her fieldwork, emphasizing that elders’ memories shape perceptions of environmental changes. She also highlights the moral implications of human-animal relationships and the cultural significance of pastoralism in maintaining community cohesion, alongside concerns for future practices.
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Field Friendships Sparked The Project
- Gagné recounts becoming close with Tibetan herder friends who sang songs about landscape and animals.
- Those friendships inspired her focus on human–environment relations in Himalayan communities.
Everyday Ethics Trumps Text-Only Views
- Focusing only on doctrinal accounts risks silencing practical, embodied moralities.
- Gagné argues ethnography recovers everyday ethics grounded in farming, herding, and care practices.
Namgyal Opened Doors With Elders
- Gagné describes Namgyal, her research assistant, as an insider-outsider who built trust with elders.
- His cosmopolitan background and listening skills unlocked emotional, detailed testimonies.
