For centuries, Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples have stewarded natural resources to sustain their communities, traditional ways of life, and cultural identities. This close relationship with the natural world puts Indigenous communities at the forefront of climate change impacts.
Drawing upon a strong history of adaptation and innovation, Tribal nations and Indigenous communities are key collaborators on adaptation work within the Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) network. The CASCs partner with Native and Indigenous communities to better understand their specific knowledge of and exposure to climate change impacts, to increase or assist with capacity to support adaptation planning, and to identify and address their climate science needs.
The CASCs have funded, organized, and participated in a variety of research projects, training workshops, and stakeholder meetings The CASCs have also worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to support Tribal Resilience Liaisons who provide another avenue for communication, engagement, and research between Indigenous peoples and the CASCs. These Liaisons are dedicated to increasing CASC engagement with Tribal nations, Tribal consortia, and Tribal organizations so that the CASCs can further understand and meet their information needs.
The projects CASCs have funded to support and assist Native and Indigenous communities can be grouped into four main categories: 1) assessing science needs; 2) increasing capacity; 3) understanding impacts to food, water, and culturally important resources; and 4) incorporating traditional knowledge into adaptation planning. Read on to learn more about our efforts in these areas.
Input & Engagement
Direct input from and engagement with tribal and indigenous communities is crucial for the CASCs to provide the appropriate science needed by these communities. Input is also important so that, when appropriate and acceptable, researchers can understand and consider Traditional Knowledge. Input is, in part, gathered through participation from these communities in the regional CASC Stakeholder Advisory Committees.
CASCs have also engaged with native communities through efforts such as inter-tribal workshops and climate related training classes in the South Central U.S, collaborative partnership established in the Southeast, and interviews with tribal elders in the Northwest.
The Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has also placed Tribal Climate Scientist/Technical Support Coordinators ("Tribal Liaisons") at several of the CASCs to help identify climate information and research needs of tribes and indigenous communities and work with federal partners to address those needs.
Tribal Climate Science Liaisons
The Tribal Climate Science Liaisons for the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center are Sara Smith and Casey Thornbrugh.
Sara Smith serves as the liaison between Tribes in the Midwest, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and climate science researchers to identify and address research gaps in climate, natural, and cultural resources aswell as improve outreach and capacity building. Sara is a direct descendant of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Her experience is in research and development, natural resources, ecology, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and working with indigenous communities in the Midwest. Sara’s interests entail forest ecology and dynamics, bridging the gap between science and indigenous knowledge, climate resilience education, and community outreach.
View her staff profile page, including contact information, here.
Casey Thornbrugh serves as the liaison between Tribes in the Northeast and the Southeast, the United South and Eastern Tribes Inc. (USET), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and climate science researchers. Based out of the Northeast CASC at UMass-Amherst, he provides current climate science information to Tribal Nations on the East Coast and in Gulf Coast states, as well as identifies climate research needs and priorities, and provides climate adaptation planning support for the Tribes. Casey participates in a network of Tribal climate science liaisons within the Climate Adaptation Science Center network, and a national workgroup of Tribal organizations, Tribal colleges, and other partners to address policy and resource issues associated with Tribal climate resilience.
View his staff profile page, including contact information, here.
Key Resources and Developed Products
- The Northeast Indigenous Climate Resilience Network (NICRN), which seeks to convene Indigenous peoples to identify threats to Indigenous self-determination and ways of life and to formulate adaptation and mitigation strategies, dialogues, and educational programs that build Indigenous capacities to address climate-related issues.
- Eastern Turtle Island Climate Change Newsletter Feb 2018
- Eastern Turtle Island Climate Change Newsletter Jan 2018
- Webinar - 2018 Update Tribal Climate Science and Adaptation in the Midwest and Northeast
Partners
Learn more about affilaited Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Partners projects
- Providing Support for the Development of a Tribal Forest Adaptation Menu
- Indigenous Planning Summer Institute
- Supporting Collaborative Relationships between Tribes and Climate Science in the Northeast Region to Address Climate Impacts
- Tribal Colleges and Universities: TCU Engagement with Tribal Communities on Climate Change Issues
- Shifting Seasons: Tribal Climate Adaptation Training with Northeastern Tribes
- Collaboration in Action: Using the Menominee Model of Sustainability to Assess, Plan, and Build Capacity for Tribal Communities to Address Climate Change in the Northeast Climate Science Center Region
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 Oct 24_Brown Bag talk_Tribal Adaptation.pdf | 2.08 MB |