Tribal Profiles, Fact Sheets and Climate Planning Tools

These climate change resources include a wide range of materials, from profiles of tribal climate change efforts around the United States, fact sheets that focus on climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and other relevant topics, and planning resources for developing climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans. Additional tribal climate change planning resources can be found here:

Title Description Geography Website
The Lummi Nation: Pursuing Clean Renewable Energy

The Lummi Nation has launched a number of renewable energy projects to reduce its environmental impact and to contribute to its goal of energy self-sufficiency. These projects include conducting a wind energy development feasibility assessment, lighting a walking trail with solar LEDs, installing a geothermal heat pump system for a new administrative building, and developing a strategic energy plan to coordinate future efforts. This profile provides detailed information on the wind energy development feasibility assessment project and also examines the opportunities and motivation that inspired the Lummi Nation to explore the options for renewable energy on their tribal lands.

Categories: Renewable energy, Wind Energy, Tribal

Northwest Link
ITEP: Southwest Tribal Climate Change Project

In August 2010, the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), at Northern Arizona University, and the USDA Forest Service (USFS) Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) began collaborating on a project focused on tribal climate change issues in the Southwest. Goals of the project include identifying work being done by tribes in Arizona and New Mexico on climate change, assessing their climate change research and information needs, making tribes aware of resources and opportunities that might assist them in their work, and sharing research results of the project with tribes, the USFS and other agencies. This profile provides an overview of the various project activities.

Categories: Research, Collaboration, Tribal

Southwest Link
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium: Assessing Health Impacts and Documenting Observed Changes

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s (ANTHC) Center for Climate and Health has done a tremendous amount of work over the past four years to support Alaska Native communities in chronicling climate change impacts on the landscape and on human health. Staff members from the center apply their “engineering, environmental health and community health experience to perform assessments, develop community-appropriate strategies, and to describe climate-health connections.”Much of the early work has focused on areas of Alaska with high climate vulnerability, including the Northwest Arctic. Impacts of climate change in the Northwest Arctic region range from thinning sea and river ice, to permafrost melting and coastal erosion. Though many research groups are working to identify and monitor the changing environmental conditions around Alaska, ANTHC’s approach is unique both in its data collection methods and its focus, namely community-based adaptation strategies.

Categories: Research, Tribal

Alaska Link
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians: Siletz Tribal Energy Program

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, located on the Oregon coast, have created an innovative renewable energy program. The Siletz Tribal Planning Department created the Siletz Tribal Energy Program (STEP) through a grant from the Administration for Native Americans in 2009. STEP works within the tribal community to encourage efficient energy use and reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Much of their work is focused on improving tribal buildings and homes. STEP prioritizes community involvement as a way to increase awareness of tribal members, promote skills-training in the tribal community and promote tribal independence in energy; tribal outreach is a major aspect of STEP’s work. This profile examines the ranges of their programs, including weatherization and energy efficiency, conservation, renewable power and solar.

Categories: Rewenable Energy, Mitigation, Tribal

Northwest Link
The Salish Sea Campaign

Our Salish Sea Campaign is focused on the health of salmon, qwe ‘lhol mechen (orca), and the waters. The Salish Sea is our sacred sea, and it is our Xa Xalh Xechnging (sacred obligation) to help heal and revitalize it.

Categories: Salish Sea, orcas, salmon populations, environmental protection, water, protection, revitalization

Salish Sea, Washington Link
SmartICE

SmartICE is an award-winning technological innovation for the North. We are the world’s first climate change adaptation tool to integrate traditional knowledge of sea ice with advanced data acquisition and remote monitoring technology. Our system combines these approaches to provide invaluable, data-driven insights into sea-ice thickness and local ice conditions, in near real-time. We embrace a business model that aims to expand opportunities for economic and social development in northern markets while preserving local cultures and lifestyles.

Categories: sea ice, arctic, traditional knowledge, data collection, monitoring, adaptation, technology

Arctic, Alaska Link
Karuk Tribe: Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge within Natural Resource Management

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) plays a significant role in the Karuk Tribe’s approach to natural resource management, which is guided by a respect for the relationships between species, their habitats and the belief that fostering ecosystem resilience is critical to ensuring sustainability. In 2010, the Karuk Tribe released a draft Eco-Cultural Resources Management Plan to create a long-term adaptation strategy for the protection, enhancement and utilization of cultural and natural resources. The Eco-Cultural Resources Management Plan establishes a framework for considering a wide range of human and environmental stressors to the Karuk Tribe, including climate change. This profile explores the role of traditional ecological knowledge in the Karuk Tribe’s Eco-Cultural Resource Management Plan, the ways in which this unique approach may contribute to tribal efforts to address climate change, and the importance of the federal-tribal relationship in addressing climate change.

Categories: TEK, Adaptation, Tribal,

Northwest Link
First Foods and Climate Change

Indigenous populations in North America face significant threats from climate change. One area of great concern is how first foods will be impacted by climate change. Because of the vital role that first foods play in the physical, mental and spiritual health of native communities, impacts from climate change on first foods may negatively affect tribal culture and livelihood. This profile explores the challenges that indigenous peoples face in maintaining their historically important relationships with first foods in the context of climate change. The profile also outlines the impacts that climate change may have on many first foods, describes challenges facing indigenous peoples in continuing their relationship with first foods, and explore ways in which they have adapted or responded to these challenges.

Categories: TEK, Tribal

National Link
Indigenous Perspectives on Climate Change

This profile features Northern California-based ecologist Dennis Martinez and his thoughts on the roles of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and western science. For the past 40 years, Martinez has worked to facilitate dialogue incorporating both approaches to understanding the natural world. He has also been working with the Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Assessment (IPCCA), which is empowering local communities to do their own climate change assessments.

Categories: TEK, Tribal

National, Northwest, International Link
Intertribal Timber Council (ITC) Resources, Publications and Reports

The ITC maintains a webpage dedicated to publications, training information, resources and newsletters.

Categories: Timber, Natural Resource Management, Training

National Link
Water Toolbox

Tribal Nations may take advantage of this Federal Support Toolbox to access a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” online water resources data portal. The site offers direct links to valuable data, state-of-the-art models, and tools for the U.S. and international water resources community to collaborate and share information.

Categories: toolbox, water, resources, models, collaborate, community

National Link
Our Future Climate in Samish Traditional Territory

Since time immemorial, Samish people have lived and prospered on the land and water of the Salish Sea in Washington State. Over time, Samish people have successfully navigated a variety of changes while maintaining a strong connection to the resources, rich lands, and waters of our region. While many of us may have moved away, we are still connected to this place and through it, to each other.

Categories: traditional ecological knowledge, cultural resources, climate change adaptation, sea level rise, stream temperatures, ocean acidification,

Washington Link
Forest County Potawotami and Climate Change

Potawatomi tribes are looking to elders for guidance and wisdom regarding ecological stewardship. The tribe's deep, innate understanding that all things are connected has fueled everything from recycling initiatives to energy retrofitting and green building to reduce emissions and combat climate change. The next step is to achieve energy independence and tribal sovereignty for their tribe and others across the nation to really have an impact.

Categories: Traditional Knowledge, Green Energy, Mitigation, Tribal

Northeast Link
Guidelines for Considering Traditional Knowledges in Climate Change Initiatives

The Guidelines for Considering Traditional Knowledges (TKs) in Climate Change Initiatives are an informational resource for tribes, agencies, and organizations across the United States interested in understanding traditional knowledges in the context of climate change. The Third National Climate Assessment issued in May 2014 contained a chapter dedicated to the impact of climate change on tribal peoples. In light of the increasing recognition of the significance of traditional knowledges (TKs) in relation to climate change, a self-organized, informal group of indigenous persons, staff of indigenous governments and organizations, and experts with experience working with issues concerning traditional knowledges (The Climate and Traditional Knowledges Workgroup – CTKW), felt compelled to develop a framework to increase understanding of issues relating to access and protection of TKs in climate initiatives and interactions between holders of TKs and non-tribal partners. These Guidelines are not intended to promote the exchange of Traditional Knowledges. Rather, they are to increase understanding of the role of and protections for TKs in climate initiatives, provide provisional guidance to those engaging in efforts that encompass TKs and increase mutually beneficial and ethical interactions between tribes and non-tribal partners. The Guidelines are a work in progress and intended to spur active deliberation and discussion for further development. For more information and a question/comment form, visit: http://climatetkw.wordpress.com/.
Download the Guidelines here: https://climatetkw.wordpress.com/guidelines/ .

Categories: traditional knowledges, climate change initiatives, resource, informational framework

National, Pacific Northwest Link
Exploring the Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Climate Change Initiatives

Indigenous populations are projected to face disproportionate impacts as a result of climate change in comparison to non-indigenous populations. For this reason, many American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are identifying and implementing culturally appropriate strategies to assess climate impacts and adapt to projected changes. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), as the indigenous knowledge systems are collectively referred to as, has the potential to play a central role in both indigenous and non-indigenous climate change initiatives. The detection of environmental changes, the development of strategies to adapt to these changes, and the implementation of sustainable land-management principles are all important climate action items that can be informed by TEK. Although there is a significant body of literature on traditional knowledge, this synthesis examines literature that specifically explores the relationship between TEK and climate change. The synthesis describes the potential role of TEK in climate change assessment and adaptation efforts. It also identifies some of the challenges and benefits associated with merging TEK with Western science, and reviews the way in which federal policies and administrative practices facilitate or challenge the incorporation of TEK in climate change initiatives. The synthesis highlights examples of how tribes and others are including TEK into climate research, education, and resource planning and explores strategies to incorporate TEK into climate change policy, assessments, and adaptation efforts at national, regional, and local levels.

Categories: traditional knowledges, climate change, tribe, Indigenous

United States Link
Climate Change and Black Carbon

These 2-page Fact Sheets focus on climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and other relevant topics. They may be used in outreach with tribal government staff, leadership and communities.

Categories: Tribal Fact Sheet

National Link
Climate Change and Black Carbon: What it means for Alaska Native Villages and what you can do

These 2-page Fact Sheets focus on climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and other relevant topics. They may be used in outreach with tribal government staff, leadership and communities.

Categories: Tribal Fact Sheet

Alaska Link
Climate Change and Drought

These 2-page Fact Sheets focus on climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and other relevant topics. They may be used in outreach with tribal government staff, leadership and communities.

Categories: Tribal Fact Sheet

National Link
Climate Change and Human Health

These 2-page Fact Sheets focus on climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and other relevant topics. They may be used in outreach with tribal government staff, leadership and communities.

Categories: Tribal Fact Sheet

National Link
Climate Change and Invasive Species

These 2-page Fact Sheets focus on climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and other relevant topics. They may be used in outreach with tribal government staff, leadership and communities.

Categories: Tribal Fact Sheet

National Link
Climate Change and Wildfire Resources

These 2-page Fact Sheets focus on climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and other relevant topics. They may be used in outreach with tribal government staff, leadership and communities.

Categories: Tribal Fact Sheet

National Link
Climate Change Mitigation and Solid Waste: Reducing greenhouse gases through municipal solid waste management

These 2-page Fact Sheets focus on climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and other relevant topics. They may be used in outreach with tribal government staff, leadership and communities.

Categories: Tribal Fact Sheet

National Link
Norton Bay Inter-Tribal Watershed Council; The Artic: On the Front Lines of Climate Change

The Norton Bay Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (NBITWC) formed in 2012 after recognizing the need for Alaskan Native Villagers in the Arctic to come together todevelop community projects to address those critical infrastructure threats. The NBITWC is based in the Norton Bay area, at the southern end of Norton Sound onthe Seward Peninsula, and focuses their efforts on issues related to the Norton Bay watershed. Five federally recognized tribal governments are represented onthe NBITWC: the Native Villages of Elim, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Golovin, and Shismaref. Together, their voices are stronger than any individual Village’s could be.

Categories: tribal profile, resilience, action, climate adaptation, community, infrastructure, mitigation, risk assessment, BIA Tribal Resiliency Program

Alaska Link
Pala Band of Mission Indians Sees Savings from Solar-Powered Fire Station, Looks Ahead to Continued Energy Development

The Pala Band of Mission Indians, like many tribes, has turned to renewable energy as a means of lowering energy costs and gaining independence from the grid. In the last three years, the Tribe has received funding support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs toward two separate renewable energy projects—the first of which is now complete, and providing significant benefits to the Tribe.

Categories: tribal profiles, Office of Indian Energy, solar power, renewable energy

California Link
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - Climate Change Strategic Plan

In response to growing concerns about the impacts of climate change on tribal members and on their homelands, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have developed a Climate Change Strategic Plan. The Tribes worked with several partners, including Salish-Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee, Kootenai Culture Committee, Next Seven Group LLC, the Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC), the Kresge Foundation, and the Roundtable of the Crown Continent Adaptive Management Initiative, to develop a plan to inform the tribal policy and actions moving forward. This plan brings together the knowledge of elders with scientific observations to document existing impacts and prepare for future changes. The original 2013 Strategic Plan was updated in 2016. To download a PDF of the most recent version, click here.

Categories: Tribal, Adaptation Plan

Northwest, Montana Link
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe-Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan

In order to promote climate resilience in their community, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe has developed a Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan. Drawing on an Environmental Protection Agency Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP) grant, and in collaboration with Adaptation International and Washington Sea Grant, the Tribe developed a plan that addresses sea level rise, ocean acidification, salmon health, natural disasters and shifts in species ranges. The plan drew on input from tribal leaders, elders and technical staff to ensure that tribal concerns were considered. The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe sees climate adaptation as a process, not an outcome; this plan is part of an ongoing effort by the Tribe to prepare for climate impacts on their community. Additional plan resources are available as listed below.To download a PDF of the 2013 Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan, click here.To download a PDF of the 2013 Climate Action Plan Key Area of Concern, click here.To download a PDF of the 2013 Adaptation Plan Addendum: Two Additional Key Areas of Concern, click here.To download a PDF of the 2013 Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan Appendices, click here.

Categories: Tribal, Adaptation Plan, Climate Change, Vulnerability Assessment

Northwest Link
Clearwater River Subbasin Climate Change Adaptation Plan

In an effort to prepare for changes to their homelands’ ecology, the Nez Perce Tribe’s Water Resources Division created a climate change adaptation plan for the Clearwater River Subbasin in 2011. The plan focuses on climate impacts to water and forestry resources, two areas of natural resource management that are both culturally and economically important to the Nez Perce Tribe. The adaptation plan includes an assessment of existing conditions in the subbasin, and data on how changes in climate may impact forests, waters, and the local economy. This profile highlights the efforts of the Nez Perce Tribe to increase awareness of climate change issues in their region through this plan, as well as their strategies for integrating adaptation into existing and future management plans. To download a PDF of the plan, click here.

Categories: Tribal, Adaptation Plan, Water Resources

Northwest Link
Tribal Vulnerability Assessment Resources (CIG)

Tribal nations have been actively engaged in efforts to understand climate risks to their natural and cultural resources, and what they can do to prepare. We have carefully selected a suite of resources that may be useful to tribes at each stage in the process of evaluating their vulnerability to climate change—from tribes just getting started to those well on their way.

Categories: tribal, vulnerability assessment, resources, planning, climate change

Link
Tribal Climate Tool

This tool is designed to help tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin, U.S.A, understand how the climate is expected to change in places that they care about. It provides maps, graphs, tables and descriptions of projected changes.

Categories: Tribes, climate change, climate tool, maps, graphs, tables, projected changes

Pacific Northwest, Great Basin Link
Navajo Nation: Hotter, Drier Climate Puts Sand Dunes on the Move

The Native Navajo people of the southwestern United States are facing an increasingly dry climate. In a region that receives an average of only six inches of precipitation per year, average warming of just two degrees Fahrenheit can significantly increase evaporation and loss of water through plants, reducing available moisture by a third. Alone, this drying process has the potential to fundamentally alter local ecosystems. When combined with a decrease in winter snowfall that feeds year-round streams, the impacts of drying can multiply. Roughly one-third of the Navajo Reservation is covered with sand dunes. In the already windy and increasingly arid environment, vegetation that can grow on dunes withers, and dunes can become mobile—obliterating everything in their path. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are now conducting research on the dunes. This work can provide critical data to the Native peoples of the region as they consider how they might respond. Some Navajo Nation communities are also working with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Northern Arizona University Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP) to provide education and to test methods to that may help stabilize sand dunes.

Categories: U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Water, Drought

Arizona Link