Native American tribes like the Swinomish are applying a long-term view of planning when dealing with climate change. The adaptations they make today will benefit their great grandchildren.
Katie Campbell
While President Obama tries to return his administration's focus to climate change, several Northwest tribes are leading the way in adapting to the challenges of warming average temperatures.
Indian Country Today has highlighted eight tribes that are "way ahead of the climate-adaptation curve." And five of them are from the Pacific Northwest. They are:
The Swinomish Tribe from Puget Sound
The Swinomish were singled out as the first tribe in the nation to pass a climate change proclamation. That action, taken in 2006, has been followed up with the implementation of a concrete action plan, according to Indian Country Today.
Read an EarthFix report on the Swinomish and climate change.
Watch video report:
Videography by Michael Werner, Katie Campbell and Saskia de Melker.
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe from the Olympic Peninsula
This tribe has traditionally relied on oysters, salmon, and other first foods from the Salish Sea. Acidification, a result of increasing carbon emissions that get taken up by the ocean, has threatened the tribe's ability to sustain itself through shellfish harvesting. The tribe is taking action by adopting a vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan. It doesn't just identify threats such as ocean acidification to its key resources. It also creates adaptation strategies for each resource, according to Indian Country Today.
The Karuk Tribe from the Klamath Basin
The Karuk were singled out for their "Eco-Cultural Resources Management Draft Plan," which was released in 2010. Parts are currently being implemented.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes from Northwest Montana
These tribes, which traditionally inhabited an area that reached into Idaho, Wyoming and British Columbia, were recognized for adopting an approach to climate change that puts strategic planning at the forefront. They finalized their plan in September. The tribes next step is to establish a Climate Change Oversight Committee."
The Nez Perce Tribe from Northern Idaho
The Nez Perce have extensive forestland holdings. The tribe is using this natural resource to sequester carbon. As part of this approach, the tribe has developed a carbon offset strategy to market carbon sequestration credits.
-- David Steves