NE CASC Tribal Climate Science Liaisons Hold Tribal Climate Resilience Camp

Last month, several NE CASC and SE CASC team members joined representatives from five Tribal Nations as well as a variety of federal and university partners in Durham, North Carolina for the 2024 United South and Eastern Tribes Tribal Climate Resilience Camp. Organized by NE CASC and SE CASC Tribal Climate Science Liaisons Casey Thornbrugh and Steph Courtney, the week-long event was designed to advance Tribal climate adaptation through community-building, informational presentations about climate adaptation resources, and breakout sessions focused on Tribal climate resilience planning. 

NE CASC team members helped advance the camp’s goals with a variety of presentations. Emily Fusco, Deputy University Director, and Ashley Fortune Isham, Research Coordinator, provided an overview of NE CASC research, opportunities for partnerships with Tribal Nations, and funding opportunities. Julie Walker, an ORISE Postdoctoral Fellow, discussed her research on salt marsh vulnerability, a key topic for several participating Tribal Nations. In addition to organizing the camp, Thornbrugh and Courtney introduced camp participants to the Tribal Adaptation Menu, an adaptation resource that integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge with Western science, and the concept of Tribal data sovereignty. Other partners informed participants about the EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant Program as well as Tribal climate resilience resources available from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. 

As in previous years, the camp focused on the development of concrete adaptation projects that Tribal team members will use to advance resilience in their communities. This year, teams opted to work on creating funding strategies, adaptation plans, and conceptualizing next steps for their climate resilience programs. Work sessions each day included support from USET and NE or SE CASC staff paired with teams based on interests and expertise. The camp culminated with presentations from each team about their plans for continuing and implementing their projects over the coming months. 

The week began with a keynote address by Dr. Lara Jacobs, a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan State University and citizen of Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Jacobs' talk highlighted the profound historical impacts of genocide, ecocide, and land dispossession on Indigenous peoples, ecosystems, and other non-human kin. She also outlined ongoing neocolonial practices, such as prioritizing profit over environmental responsibility, that contribute to the vulnerability of species and ecosystems. Presenting a counterpoint to these destructive practices, Jacobs showcased several Indigenous-led climate adaptation efforts that have succeeded despite the many historical, cultural, and material challenges confronting project leaders and their communities. Finally, she also urged a shift towards centering Indigenous Knowledge and sovereignty/data sovereignty in land management to transform power dynamics and achieve more equitable environmental stewardship. Jacobs’ framework proposes moving from managing land 'for' or 'with' Indigenous peoples to management 'by' and 'as' indigenous peoples. 

“The Tribal Climate Resilience Camp proved to be a wonderful opportunity for NE CASC team members to share our research and build connections with Tribal Nation representatives,” Fusco said. “We look forward to further developing these connections in the future and hope that we can partner with camp participants to help advance their climate adaptation priorities.”