Tribal & Indigenous Climate Adaptation

Register for the upcoming virtual National Adaptation Forum Tribal & Indigenous Climate Adaptation Series

EcoAdapt is excited to present the virtual National Adaptation Forum Tribal & Indigenous Climate Adaptation Series.

 

This is a four-part series focused on advancing discussions about climate adaptation in Tribal and Indigenous communities, highlighting promising adaptation practices, and showcasing the diversity of approaches to climate adaptation. The series will interest not only Tribal and Indigenous professionals, but also their neighbors, allies, and other adaptation professionals interested in innovative approaches.

 

This series will touch on themes including Tribal climate and health, community-led adaptation, and Indigenous sustainability practices. The sessions will include panels, individual speakers, and a documentary film. Mark your calendars for October 27, November 10, November 17, and December 1 from 11 am to 12:30 pm PT / 2 pm - 3:30 pm ET. 

 

This series would have not been possible without the support of our Tribal & Indigenous Climate Adaptation Steering Committee. 

 

Make sure to register now to receive information on session speakers as soon as it's available!

 

 

Session One - Wednesday, October 27, 2021 (11 am - 12:30 pm PT)

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This session will share promising approaches, lessons learned, tools, and resources developed by Pala's federally funded Tribal Climate Health Project (TCHP). In the last five years, this program has worked to strength U.S. Tribal capacity to assess and prepare for the health and other impacts of climate change through trainings, peer knowledge exchange, tools, nation-wide partnerships, data development, research, and direct assistance. This session will highlight the latest information on the health impacts of climate-induced wildfire, drought, heat, storms, and flooding on Tribes. It will detail how Pala has used its own adaptation experiences to inform the TCHP and how the TCHP continually informs Pala's adaptation efforts.

 

Presenters (see presenter bios here):

  • Shasta Gaughen, Environmental Director and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Pala Band of Mission Indians 

  • Angie Hacker, CEO and Principal Consultant, Prosper Sustainability; Contractor for the Pala Band of Mission Indians' Tribal Climate Health Project

 

Session Moderator: Cynthia Naha, New Mexico Tribal Liaison & Science Communications Specialist, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

 

Session Two - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 (11 am - 12:30 pm PT)

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This roundtable will offer a conversation among colleagues working together to build collective power for community-led adaptation that is centered in the self-determination of Tribal communities. It will offer concrete practices and considerations for community-led processes to build partnerships, preserve culture, mobilize for advocacy and action, and advance solutions for community-led adaptation. 

 

The panelists will discuss the importance of centering Indigenous Knowledges and wisdom in climate adaptation, a collaborative, community-led effort to protect and preserve cultural heritage and restore wetlands in coastal Louisiana, and a community-led process to develop federal policy recommendations on climate-forced displacement, among other topics.

 

Participants will come away from the session with concrete examples and guidance for how to support community-led adaptation through research, funding, and advocacy.

 

Presenters:

  • Elder Patricia Cochran, Alaska Native Science Commission

  • Leader Rosina Philippe, Atakapa-Ishak/Chawasha, Grand Bayou and First Peoples Conservation Council of Louisiana 

  • Elder Theresa Dardar, Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe and First Peoples Conservation Council of Louisiana 

  • Chief Shirell Parfait-Dardar, Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw and First Peoples Conservation Council of Louisiana

  • Salote Soqo, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee 

  • Dr. Julie Maldonado, Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network and Rising Voices Community Relocation and Site Expansion Working Group

  • Dr. Kristina Peterson, Lowlander Center

  • Dr. R. Eugene Turner, Louisiana State University

 

Session Moderator: Stefan Tangen, Tribal Resilience Liaison, Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance

 

Session Three - Wednesday, November 17, 2021 (11 am - 12:30 pm PT)

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This session will include three individual presentations from speakers Raymond Martinez, Joshua Rosenau, and Shasta Gaughen. These presentations will explore topics including community engagement, the integration of Indigenous and Pueblo cultures into adaptation planning, and transportation resilience and how it relates to access to health and emergency services. Speakers will touch on challenges and lessons learned throughout the planning and adaptation process.

 

Presenters (see presenter bios here): 

  • Raymond Martinez, DECP Director, Department of Environmental & Cultural Preservation (DECP), Pueblo de San Ildefonso

  • Joshua Rosenau, Secretary, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes - Climate Change Adaptation Council

  • Shasta Gaughen, Environmental Director and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Pala Band of Mission Indians 

 

Session Moderator: Nikki Cooley, Co-Manager of the Tribal Climate Change Program, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)

 

Session Four - Wednesday, December 1, 2021 (11 am - 12:30 pm PT)

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Tribal & Indigenous Climate Adaptation Steering Committee:

Committee Chair: Cynthia Naha, New Mexico Tribal Liaison & Science Communications Specialist, South Central Climate Adaptation Center

Committee Members listed in alphabetical order by first name:

  • Althea Walker, Tribal Climate Science Liaison, American Indian Higher Education Consortium
  • Alyssa Samoy, Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Climate Resilience Program
  • Arielle Quintana, Cochiti Pueblo, Colorado State University 
  • Atherton Phleger, Law Student, University of New Mexico
  • Carey Schafer, Project Coordinator, EcoAdapt
  • Carolyn Gillette, Senior Program Manager, Eastern Research Group
  • Chas Jones, Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
  • Corwin Carroll, Natural Resource Specialist, Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Resilience Program
  • Eric Mielbrecht, Director of Operations, EcoAdapt
  • Karen Cozzetto, Co-Manager of the Tribal Climate Change Program, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
  • Lauren Rust, Program Coordinator, Utton Center - University of New Mexico
  • Margaret Chavez, Senior Environmental Specialist, Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc.
  • Mike Chang, Senior Associate, Cascadia Consulting Group
  • Mona Arora, Assistant Research Professor, University of Arizona
  • Nikki Cooley, Co-Manager of the Tribal Climate Change Program, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
  • Rachael Novak, Coordinator, Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Resilience Program
  • Robert Newman, Professor of Biology, University of North Dakota
  • Sara Smith, Midwest Tribal Resilience Liaison, College of Menominee Nation
  • Sarah Diefendorf, Director, EFCWest
  • Sharon Hausam, Climate Adaptation Planner & Research Scientist, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
  • Stefan Tangen, Tribal Resilience Liaison, Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance
  • Thelma Antonio, Project Manager, High Water Mark

 

 

Sponsors:

The Tribal & Indigenous Climate Adaptation Series would have not been possible without the generous support of the Walton Family Foundation.