Tribal / First Nation

Climate change poses significant threats to the health of individuals and communities, as well as the delivery of healthcare services. Human morbidity and mortality rates are rising due to extreme heat events and changing patterns of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, and healthcare infrastructure is at risk from extreme events. Climate adaptation actions are taken to either avoid or take advantage of climate change impacts either by decreasing vulnerability or increasing resilience.

The purpose of the Lummi Nation Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan: 2016-2026 (CCMAP) is to evaluate the potential impacts of anthropogenic climate change on the Lummi Indian Reservation (Reservation), Lummi Usual and Accustomed Grounds and Stations (U&A), and Lummi Traditional Territories and to present both mitigation strategies that may reduce the causes of climate change and adaptation strategies that may minimize climate change impacts that cannot be avoided.

In the fall of 2008 the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community started work on a landmark two-year Climate Change Initiative to study the impacts of climate change on the resources, assets, and community of the Swinomish Indian Reservation and to develop recommendations on actions to adapt to projected impacts. This followed issuance of a Proclamation by the Tribal Senate in 2007 directing action to study and assess climate change impacts on the Reservation.

in 2015, the Stillaguamish Tribe’s Natural Resources Department partnered with the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (CIG) to complete a climate change vulnerability assessment for 57 species and 10 habitats important to the Stillaguamish Tribe. The Stillaguamish Tribe Natural Resources Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (Krosby et al. 2016) evaluated the potential impacts of climate change on a variety of birds, mammals, fishes, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as a wide range of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats.

The purpose of adaptation is to develop a resilient community, one that takes proactive steps to prepare for the impacts of projected climate change. The Samish Indian Nation endeavors to be a climate resilient community preparing for potential impacts of climate change, so that our children and our grandchildren can be healthy, prosperous, and enjoy our natural resources and cultural traditions.

This Climate Plan is prepared pursuant to a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2016, with an update from the same fund planned for 2017.   While the focus is on treaty natural resources, both because of the funding agency and this writer’s being housed in Quileute Natural Resources (hereinafter,sometimes, “QNR”), some sections will address the reservation needs as a whole, including infrastructure and ideas to sustain power, food, and water. Of necessity this Plan is limited by the information available up to the closing date.

Letter of Introduction Puyallup Tribe of Indians For thousands of years, the Puyallup River and coasts of the Puget Sound have sustained our way of life by giving to us the salmon, shellfish, wild game, roots, berries, and cedar trees that are the foundation of our culture, traditions, and heritage. In spite of the many challenges we have faced, our spirits remain tied to this land, and our stewardship has ensured that the Puyallup Tribe will continue to enjoy the natural gifts we receive in exchange. But we are faced with a new challenge.

"The most important number in the world right now is 350," says Steve Crawford, Director of the Passamaquoddy Tribes' Environmental Department. He's quoting James Hansen, Director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and one of the world's leading authorities on climate change. Hansen is referring to parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; CO2 is rising and is responsible for much of the planet's present warming.

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians resides in the northeast corner of Minnesota along Lake Superior. The dynamic environs of the region host a wide array of birds, fish, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Unprecedented warming of Lake Superior in recent years suggests that climate change is taking effect around Grand Portage and is threatening local wildlife species. One of the Grand Portage Band's major concerns is that climate change may lead to the loss of culturally significant subsistence species including moose and brook trout in the Lake Superior region.