Resources:
Impacts

Impacts of climate change on American Indians and Alaska Natives are documented in many of the presentations, news articles, and other resources listed on this page.


  • On the Frontlines of Climate Change: A global forum for indigenous peoples, small islands and vulnerable communities
    The Frontlines Forum seeks community-based experiences with climate change: impacts, opportunities and adaptation strategies. It provides a platform for sharing observations, concerns and innovations. The Forum invites contributions from indigenous or rural communities in small islands, high altitudes, the Arctic, desert margins and other vulnerable environments.
    www.climatefrontlines.org/

  • The Climate Race: How global warming is already affecting us and the tough choices we have to make
    Audio and video recordings, slideshows, and resources. American Public Media @2009
    http://marketplace.publicradio.org/projects/project_display.php?proj_identifier=2009/10/26/climate_race_project

  • Climate Change and Pacific Rim Indigenous Nations Project (Northwest Indian Applied Research Institute)
    The project documents existing effects of climate change on Indigenous peoples and their homelands in Pacific Rim countries, describes examples of Indigenous nation responses to local circumstances and at the international level, and recommends future paths for Indigenous nation governments to consider.
    Website http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/climate.html
    Report: Climate Change and Pacific Rim Indigenous Nations http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/IndigClimate2.pdf
    Powerpoint: Climate Change and Pacific Rim Indigenous Nations http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/IndigClimate2007.ppt
    Community organizing booklet: Native Peoples: The "Miner’s Canary" of Climate Change http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/climatechange.final.pdf
    Journal article: Indigenous Nations' Responses to Climate Change (American Indian Culture and Research Journal 32:3, 2008) http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/Indigenous%20Nations%27%20Responses.pdf

  • Video: Indigenous issues: Climate Change
    Video project undertaken by indigenous community leaders at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, May 2008. Impacts of climate change on indigenous communities around the globe and advice from community elders to the outside world. 13 minutes.
    www.insightshare.org/video_UNPF.html

  • Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Assessment Initiative
    IPCCA offers a conceptual framework that will empower local indigenous communities to assess the impact of climate change. Simultaneously, an assessment of global climate change will be performed to enhance understanding of how indigenous peoples are affected. The two approaches will be synthesized to produce practical local responses and national and global policy responses.
    www.ipcca.net/index.php


Reports and Assessments


Alaska and the Arctic

Alaska Conservation Solutions
Alaska Conservation Solutions provides information about the many impacts of climate change on Alaska. You can keep up to date by subscribing to the monthly report. The website also features an Alaska Carbon Calculator and a Yup'ik translation of the calculator.

www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com/acs/index.php


  • Kivalina, Alaska: A Melting Village
    Article about impacts of climate change on coastal village of Kivalina. © 2009 The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
    www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/kivalina-alaska-a-melting-village-/article98947.html

  • Webinair: Berry Resources and Human Health Under the Cloud of Climate Change (US EPA)
    Webinair about Alaska Berry Project investigating anti-diabetic properties of native wild berries and potential impacts of climate change on berry quality and abundance. October 14, 2009 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (EDT)
    http://epa.blhtech.com/webinars/

  • Climate Change Effects on Traditional Inupiaq Food Cellars (Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium)
    Paper on special concern identified in Point Hope during recent Climate Change Assessment: the thawing of traditional food storage cellars due to warming soil temperature. Climate change is a likely cause and adaptive strategies are necessary to restore food security for Point Hope and other communities that depend on traditional storage cellars. June 2009.
    Climate Change Effects on Traditional Inupiaq Food Cellars

  • Source Drinking Water Challenges Resulting from Changes to an Arctic Tundra Lake (Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium)
    Paper about extreme blooms of organic material in the source water lake in Point Hope. If warm temperatures continue, organic blooms will become a reoccurring problem for Point Hope and other communities that depend on tundra lakes for their drinking water supply. July 2009.
    Source Drinking Water Challenges Resulting from Changes to an Arctic Tundra Lake

  • Center for Climate and Health, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
    CCH works closely with governments at the local and regional level, academic institutions and public and private organizations to understand local changes and to develop strategies that encourage wellness, resilience and sustainability. With funding from the Indian Health Services, CCH is performing comprehensive local and regional surveys of health effects related to climate change. CCH also provides consultation on climate adaption and mitigation.
    www.anthc.org/chs/ces/climate/

  • Presentation: Climate Change Update: Alaskan Rural Village Perspective
    Powerpoint presentation given by Millie Hawley (Kivalina) at the EPA Region 10 Tribal Leaders Summit, September 2009. Update on climate change impacts on Kivalina and relocation plans.
    Presentation

  • Presentation: Alaska Climate Change Tribal Projects and Priorities
    Powerpoint presentation given by Rose Kalistook (Orutsararmiut Native Council) and Violet Yeaton (Port Graham Native Council) at the National Tribal Forum, June 2009.
    Presentation

  • Nunat website--Alaska Inter-Tribal Council (AITC)
    Alaska Village environmental information exchange site-climate change and subsistence fish databases on which to share observations on climate, land, and subsistence changes.
    www.nunat.net/

  • Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks)
    Assesses the socioeconomic and biophysical impacts.
    www.uaf.edu/accap/index.htm

  • Arctic Sea Ice News and Analysis(National Snow and Ice Data Center)
    Provides daily updates on sea ice data.
    www.nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/

  • Climate Change and its Effects on Native Peoples in Alaska (National Indian Law Library)
    List of resources.
    http://nilllibrary.blogspot.com/2007/04/climate-change-and-its-effects-on.html

  • Audio: Evon Peter: Global Warming Impact on G'witchin People
    Interview about impacts on G’witichin Nation. 2009 © News From Indian Country.
    http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6288

  • For Alaska's Inupiat, Climate Change and Culture Shock
    Discovery Channel article about impacts on Inupiat. April14, 2009.
    http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/04/13/inupiat-alaska-climate.html

  • Video: Tangible Effects of Climate Change
    Alaska Native talks about the effects of climate change on her villagers' traditional way of life.
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HrP5i0aKkc

  • Video: Losing Ground--Shishmaref, Alaska
    Interviews with residents of Shishmaref about impacts of climate change.
    Part 1 http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=2tVg4DUZw4o
    Part 2 http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=1wc-FnV4jn0&NR=1
    Part 3 http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=_uTyon_kXtI&feature=related

  • Video: The Inupiat People of Barrow
    Impacts of climate change on Inupiat people of Barrow.
    http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=r-6E50Mgi4c

  • Video: Alaskan Native thoughts on climate change
    Comments by resident of Native Village of Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska.
    http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=u5DiHp76gjs

  • Video: Climate Change in Unalakleet, Alaska
    Climate change impacts observed by elders in the Native Village of Unalakleet, Alaska.
    http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=hHgNzal58kg

  • Audio: Young Alaskan Sees Changing Way of Life (NPR-Climate Connections)
    Climate change impact on Alaskan village.
    www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89755688

  • Video: Through Arctic Eyes (Arctic Athabaskan Council)
    Athabaskan observations of climate change.
    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1518502994444380318

  • Video: Inuit Observations on Climate Change (International Institute for Sustainable Development)
    Impacts of climate change from perspective of Inuvialuit hunters and trappers on Banks Island in Canada's High Arctic, 2000. 42 min.
    www.iisd.org/casl/projects/inuitobs.htm

  • AMAP 2009 Update on Selected Issues of Concern (Arctic Mapping and Assessment Program)
    Report includes summary of recent observations of changing climate, review of short-term climate forcers, new evaluation of Arctic carbon cycle, and new initiatives for improving predicitive capacity for Arctic region. April 2009.
    AMAP Climate Update 2009

  • Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
    International project of the Arctic Council and the International Arctic Science Committee to evaluate and synthesize knowledge on climate variability, climate change, and increased ultraviolet radiation and their consequences. 2004.
    www.acia.uaf.edu/

  • Book: The Earth is Faster Now:
    Indigenous Observations of Arctic Environmental Change, Krupnik, Igor, and Jolly, Dyanna (eds.), 2002. Fairbanks, Alaska: Arctic Research Consortium of the United States. 384 pp.

  • Climate Change Impacts on Traditional Foods and Medicines Report (Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources)
    Report on current and predicted effects of climate change on traditional foods and medicines used by Black River First Nation (Canada), plus recommendations on how BRFN can adapt. April 2007
    www.cier.ca/information-and-resources/publications-and-products.aspx?id=1292

  • Breaking New Ground While Treading Gently On The Alaskan Tundra
    Science Daily article about research project on impacts of climate change on Alaska’s North Slope and the Inupiaqs. Sept 15, 2005.
    www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050915005234.htm


Pacific Northwest


Southwest and Great Basin

  • AZ DroughtWatch: Arizona’s Drought Impact Reporting System
    AZ DroughtWatch is a tool designed to collect qualitative reports of drought impacts across Arizona. This impact information is used in conjunction with meteorological and hydrological data to characterize drought conditions.
    http://azdroughtwatch.org/

  • Who’s paying attention to the drought on the Colorado Plateau?
    Article about drought and climate conditions and weather monitoring network at Hopi Nation and Navajo Nation. Southwest Climate Outlook, July 21, 2009, p.3, University of Arizona.
    www.climas.arizona.edu/forecasts/archive/july2009/swoutlook.html

  • Southwest Climate Change Network (Univ. of Arizona)
    Virtual network for sharing information on climate change in Southwest and collaborate on solutions.
    www.southwestclimatechange.org

  • Climate Choices in California (Union of Concerned Scientists)
    www.climatechoices.org/ca/index.html

  • Hotter and Drier: The West's Changed Climate (Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, Natural Resources Defense Council)
    Report documents that the West is being affected more by a changed climate than any other part of the United States outside of Alaska.
    www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/west/contents.asp

  • Audio: Drought Threatens Navajo's Crops, Culture (NPR Climate Connections)
    5-minute audio story. July 2007
    www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11992971

  • Navajo Nation Studies (U.S. Geological Survey)
    Impacts on land, vegetation, water resources of Navajo Nation.
    http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/navajo/

  • Presentation: Climate Change Impacts on the Navajo Nation, and other Native Lands
    Presentation given by Margaret Hiza Redsteer (USGS) at ITEP's Climate Change course, August 2008.
    Presentation

  • Audio: Sand Dunes on the Loose Due to Climate Change (USGS)
    Podcast interview with USGS scientist Margaret Hiza and intern Leanna Begay on their research to understand the dunes' plant diversity and what changes are occurring on the Navajo Nation. May 2009.
    www.usgs.gov/corecast/details.asp?ep=94


Prairies and High Plains


Great Lakes Region


Northeast

  • Indicators of Climate Change in the Northeast 2005 (Clean Air-Cool Planet)
    Report provides overview of climate change indicators in Northeast, including changes in precipitation, temperature, growing seasons, and sea level. Copyright 2005 © Clean Air - Cool Planet
    Indicators of Climate Change in the Northeast 2005

  • Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region (US Climate Change Science Program)
    Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.1. Detailed assessment of effects of sea-level rise on coastal environments; presents some of the challenges that need to be addressed in order to adapt to sea-level rise while protecting environmental resources and sustaining economic growth. January 2009.
    Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region

  • Climate Choices in the Northeast (Union of Concerned Scientists)
    www.climatechoices.org/ne/index.html

  • Presentation: Climate Change Impacts on Eastern Tribes
    Presentation given by Steve Crawford (Passamaqouddy Tribe) at National Tribal Forum conference, June 2008.
    Presentation


Eastern Woodlands and the Gulf Coast

  • Audio: Native Americans Lose Land to Climate Change (The Environment Report)
    Interview with Chief Albert Naquin, July 2009.
    www.environmentreport.org/story.php?story_id=4582

  • Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region (US Climate Change Science Program)
    Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.1. Detailed assessment of effects of sea-level rise on coastal environments; presents some of the challenges that need to be addressed in order to adapt to sea-level rise while protecting environmental resources and sustaining economic growth. January 2009.
    Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region

  • Confronting Climate Change in the Gulf Coast Region: Prospects for Sustaining Our Ecological Heritage (Union of Concerned Scientists and the Ecological Society of America)
    www.ucsusa.org/gulf/gcchallengereport.html




©2002 Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals & Northern Arizona University
Last updated: November 20, 2009