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First Stewards Symposium: Coastal Peoples Address Climate Change
Therefore Be It Resolved, that the First Stewards call on the United States government to formally recognize
us and our expertise and to consult with our tribal governments and indigenous communities for guidance in all
policies that affect our way of life and to support our management efforts, which will strengthen America's resiliency
and ability to adapt to climate change, and that this resolution be sent to the President of the United States
and appropriate Congressional committees and government agencies..."
Resolution of the First Stewards Coastal Peoples Address
Climate Change Symposium. National Museum of the American Indian.
Washington, DC, on July 20, 2012
Martinez says these events often draw more western scientist observers than conference organizers expect.
For example, at the Liverpool conference, he says, "I organized the event, and I couldn’t even get
into the room." One reason for the large turnouts, he says: often at science conferences, some of the
scientists are bored with the standard stuff and might want to try something different." He adds that
a small but devoted group of scientists at these events have demonstrate a consistent interest in TEK.
"To me that’s a hopeful sign."
Native people are experiencing immediate and disproportionate impacts from climate change. This is occurring because
of geographic isolation of native people, their dependence on the landscape and marine ecosystems and a lack of
support from governmental agencies. Coastal native peoples are especially at risk because of the rapidly changing
ocean temperature, sea level rise and ocean acidification, as well as changes in weather patterns and storms.
Four coastal treaty tribes from Washington State, the Hoh, Makah, and Quileute Tribes and Quinault Indian Nation,
hosted the First Stewards Symposium in recognition of the rapid changes coastal tribes are experiencing from
climate change and changes in marine ecosystems. The Symposium convened coastal people from across the United
States to discuss the impacts of climate change and strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
Tribal leaders, governmental and non-governmental agency representatives, academics, and non-profit indigenous
advocates came together to demonstrate the impacts of climate change in regions throughout the U.S. and its
territories and how indigenous adaptations to climate change can guide society moving forward. The Symposium
emphasized strategies to promote actions in society-at-large to adapt to climate change and discussed the
opportunity for native people to be leaders and provide models for other native and non-native communities.
The First Stewards Symposium led to a resolution illustrating the impacts of climate change on traditional
ways of life and culture and calling for the formal recognition and inclusion of indigenous communities in
the formation of policies, management and other government action.1
About the First Stewards Symposium
The Symposium included panels for the West coast, Alaska, Pacific Islands, and a joint panel from the East
Coast, Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Each panel dealt with regional climate change issues and indigenous
adaptation strategies. Speakers described challenges facing indigenous communities, current approaches to
adaptation, and strategies to prepare for future changes. Each panel emphasized how regional tribal solutions
have the potential to guide national and international efforts.
Conference goals focused on bringing together tribal leaders, with the support of scientists and government
agencies, to move tribal strategies to the forefront of climate change adaptation and mitigation in the
United States. A recurrent theme of the First Stewards Symposium was the importance of Traditional Knowledge
(TK) and the potential for native peoples to act as leaders in the challenge of adapting to climate change
and to educate the public at large about climate change issues, and how to move forward.
West Coast Panel
The West Coast panel focused on impacts to traditional food species posed by climate change. As David Troutt
described, the Nisqually Tribe is actively working to maintain the health of salmon populations in light of
warming waters. As the Nisqually River and its tributaries warm they deprive salmon of valuable cold,
freshwater habitat. In response, the Nisqually Department of Natural Resources has undertaken extensive work
to compensate for increasing river temperatures. For example, they have worked with a neighboring community
to improve rainwater treatment in the town, so that it cycles more quickly and is filtered through natural
swales. This leads to cooler water, which may counteract increased temperatures resulting from climate
change.
Another concern articulated in the West Coast Panel was erosion and loss of traditional lands. For the Hoh
Tribe and Quileute Tribe, loss of coastal land has become an immediate problem. The Hoh are in the process
of relocating their community, after having secured 37 acres of National Park Service land. Their community
is literally being washed into the ocean, as sea levels continue to rise along the Washington coast. The
Quileute have been forced to examine relocation as well. Rising sea level is pushing the coastline closer
and closer to their community. A key message from this panel was that native peoples are historically
resilient to change, and that continuing to inform decision-making with Traditional Knowledge will assist
in adapting to climate change.
Alaska Panel
For Northern Alaska communities such as the Yup'ik, climate change is having immediate and drastic impacts.
Mike Williams, a Yup'ik member who sits on the National Tribal Environmental Council Executive Committee,
described how in his home of Akiak, a community of 350 people, permafrost is quickly thawing. The loss of
permafrost has several negative consequences. It leads to the warping of the landscape, the literal ruffling
of the landscape; this results in severe damage to village infrastructure. In Akiak, this has meant that
people constantly have to move their homes, smokehouses and other vital structures.
Numerous coastal Alaska Native villages are being forced to relocate because of the severe erosion. According
to Stanley Tocktoo of Shishmaref village, more than 120 feet of land can be lost in a single storm event.
For residents of Shishmaref, this has meant forced relocation of their village. This is an expensive process,
made worse by a lack of government support. Alaskan villages rely in part on government subsidies. These
subsidies often end once a community begins planning for relocation; this policy operates along a line of
thought that doesn't see the use in supporting infrastructure that is soon to be uprooted. For villagers,
this means that in addition to erosion, they have to deal with inadequate sewage, water supplies and other
support. A major theme of the Alaska panel was the urgency of climate change. Climate change effects are very
immediate in the North. However, this panel also articulated a strong vision of finding ways to adapt to
climate change, in order to recreate self-sufficient communities.
Pacific Islands Panel
For native Pacific Islanders, the stakes of climate change are very high. Sea level rise can mean the total
submersion of their communities, or drastic changes to ecosystem and landscape that pose drastic threats to
public health. Beyond this, climate change is also appears to be increasing the severity of tropical storms.
For American Samoa, this has led to the worst tsunami in their history, which in 2009 killed 33 and devastated
the island. In Guam, this has meant unpredictable and extreme rainfall. Typhoons, while always an aspect of
climate in Guam, seem to be increasing in intensity. However, for both Samoa and Guam, cultural knowledge
represents the basis of resiliency. In Samoa, community-led restoration and conservation is working to provide
more stable ecosystems, in order to increase resiliency to climate change events. In Guam, people are drawing
on their history as typhoon-surviving people to survive disaster. Although the threats posed by climate change
are substantial, tradition and culture provide a powerful tool for Pacific Islanders to adapt to changes in
climate.
Drawing on traditional management philosophies was a major focus of this panel. Governor Fital of the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands suggested that drawing from ancient lessons, such as using every
part of plants and animals gathered, and working together despite adverse conditions, are the keys to combating
climate change. Governor Fital's message suggests using traditional teachings to guide modern solutions to
climate change. Similarly, Paulokaleioku Timothy Bailey, manager of Haleakala National Park, argued strongly
that in order to be good resource managers, native peoples must follow in their ancestor's steps. For Hawaii,
this means using complex ecosystems to guide cultural attitudes, and then using cultural knowledge to manage
and adapt to change. This forms a loop, in which environment and people are supporting one another. The Pacific
Islands Panel was rich in examples of how TK can be used to inform modern management and climate change
adaptation.
Great Lakes, East Coast, Gulf of Mexico
This panel discussed the importance of preparing tribal government for the changes brought on by climate change.
Jeff Mears of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin described how his tribal government is integrating climate change
into all tribal government programs. Instead of creating a new office or department to deal with climate
change, the Wisconsin Oneida are integrating climate change into all levels of tribal government. Doing so
results in plans for how climate change will affect not only environmental and cultural aspects of tribal
wellbeing, but also economy and health. Viewing climate change as having varied impacts will allow the Wisconsin
Oneida to better prepare for the diverse effects that climate change may have on their community. Similarly,
tribal governments must prepare for climate change effects beyond environmental effects, so that they can
continue to exercise their sovereignty and effectively serve their tribal membership. An emphasis of this
panel was on how to be proactive moving forward. Adaptation can be reactionary at times, as noted by John
Daigle of the University of Maine, and anticipating future changes can lead to better adaptation strategies.
Considerations for the Future
"What does it mean to be a good ancestor? What does it mean to become a good ancestor?"
Micah McCarty, chairman of Makah Tribal Council
The First Stewards Symposium centered questions and dialogue around finding ways to adapt to climate change
that benefit not only current generations, but also ensure the ability of our descendents to continue to
live in accordance with traditional values. More broadly, these solutions apply to society-at-large, to ensure
that future generations are able to enjoy the natural world and their lives within it. As part of this vision,
the First Stewards emphasized that indigenous people must unite in order to create a strong message that they
are able to help the world adapt to climate change with indigenous solutions that are time-tested, low-impact
and sustainable. The First Stewards hope to ensure that this generation can be "good ancestors" by
working together to provide a robust planet for future generations.
In August 2012, First Stewards became a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation and have elected officers, including
Micah McCarty, President; Kitty Simons, Vice President; Ann Marie Chischilly, Secretary; Ed Johnstone,
Treasurer; and Board members Mike Williams and Jeff Mears. First Stewards includes a Circle of Wisdom, a
Circle of Youth and a Circle of Friends. Additionally, First Stewards is in the process of creating a science
and policy council. Board members sent the resolution2 from the First Stewards Symposium to the President
and Congress in August 2012.
Resources
First Stewards website:
http://firststewards.org/
First Stewards Resolution, 7/20/12:
http://firststewards.org/w/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/First-Stewards-Resolution-July-20-2012-signed.pdf
Video recording of Symposium:
http://firststewards.org/videos/
Contact:
Micah McCarty
Makah Tribe
360/645-3230
klaowus@hotmail.com
Tribal Climate Change Profile Project:
The University of Oregon and the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station are
developing tribal climate change project profiles as a pathway to increasing knowledge among
tribal and non-tribal organizations interested in learning about climate change mitigation and
adaptation efforts. Each profile is intended to illustrate innovative approaches to addressing climate
change challenges and will describe the successes and lessons learned associated with planning and
implementation. For more information about the initiative, visit: http://tribalclimate.uoregon.edu/.
Carson Viles, an undergraduate student research assistant with the Pacific Northwest Tribal Climate
Change Project, is the author of this profile. Carson is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes
of Siletz Indians. He is in the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon and is
pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies.
1 http://firststewards.org/w/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/First-Stewards-Resolution-July-20-2012-signed.pdf
2 http://firststewards.org/w/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/First-Stewards-Resolution-July-20-2012-signed.pdf
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