ASSERTING NATIVE RESILIENCE :ASSERTING NATIVE RESILIENCE :Pacific Rim Indigenous NationsPacific Rim Indigenous Nations

Face the Climate CrisisFace the Climate Crisis(Oregon State University Press, 2012)(Oregon State University Press, 2012)

Anthology edited by Zoltán Grossman and Alan Parker,Anthology edited by Zoltán Grossman and Alan Parker,The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WashingtonThe Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington

Resilience #1:Resilience #1:TraditionalTraditionalEcologicalEcologicalKnowledgeKnowledge

“Native Science” (Greg Cajete)Place-based knowledge (geography),Time-tested knowledge (history)

Indigenous harvesters’ observations offer earlywarning system. Western Science research process slower to publish and react.

Hanta virus origins

Early bloom signals season change

Resilience #2Resilience #2: : Indigenous sovereigntyIndigenous sovereignty

Indigenous peoples,cultures have survived colonization, epidemics,industrialization,assimilation, pollution, urbanization

Tribal sovereigntyoffers partial shieldfor testing methods of sustainability,building community,unity with other peoples

Threats Threats to fisheryto fishery

Declined spring snowpackreduce summer streamflows

Earlier and quicker spring melts create floods, throw off timingof ecosystem relationships

Higher stream water temps,ocean acidification,hypoxia (oxygen starvation)harm fish and habitat

Dead Zone From hypoxia

Skokomish flood

Local emergencyLocal emergencyplanningplanning

Tribes & neighbors can only rely on each other in an emergency—

not FEMA.

UmatillaUmatilla

SkokomishSkokomish

Tribes as models to non-Indianneighbors (2005 tsunami alert)

Local and tribal governmentssharing equipment, resources

Adapting to new foods Adapting to new foods

Prepare for new species coming into the area from the south

Tribes can trade harvestable species (basket grasses), and advise each other on dealing with invasive species

Work with other Indigenous nationsWork with other Indigenous nationsCoast Salish Gathering ofCoast Salish Gathering ofleaders from BC and WAleaders from BC and WA

Suquamish canoe familySuquamish canoe familyvisits Aotearoa/New Zealandvisits Aotearoa/New Zealand

Recommendations for Native Leaders

1. Gather information on impacts in your region

2. Secure sources of fresh water for your community

3. Secure sources of food for times of disasters

4. Prepare for impacts on plant and animal species

5. Develop relationships with your neighbors

Recommendations page 2

• 6 Consider political alliances with city and county govt.s

• 7 Consider strategies to unite tribes and 1st Nations around habitat protection

• 8 Consider active involvement as sovereign Indigenous nations in “global” climate change negotiations.

• 9 Get the youth involved in education on climate change

• 10 Work with other Indigenous Nations across Pacific Rim

We are all dependent on the health of We are all dependent on the health of our ecosystem, whoever we are and our ecosystem, whoever we are and whatever we do. Once people whatever we do. Once people understand this, we will all be able to understand this, we will all be able to join hands in dealing with the join hands in dealing with the environmental challenges that face us. environmental challenges that face us. Where we must adapt, we will be able to Where we must adapt, we will be able to do so. Where we can help Nature to do so. Where we can help Nature to prevent human tragedies that will prevent human tragedies that will otherwise occur—by curtailing otherwise occur—by curtailing environmental damage, conserving environmental damage, conserving resources, and restoring habitat for fish resources, and restoring habitat for fish and wildlife—we will do so, together. and wildlife—we will do so, together. --Billy Frank, Jr. --Billy Frank, Jr. (in Foreword)(in Foreword)