Swinomish Tribe Studies Effect of Climate Change on Community, Culture

Lead Story, News

Climate change threatens not only the environment, but also tribal communities whose culture, livelihood and identities depend on natural resources. “Current climate change assessments omit key community health concerns, which are vital to successful adaptation plans, particularly for indigenous communities,” said Jamie Donatuto, environmental health specialist for the Swinomish Tribe. “Recent assessments show that indigenous […]

Sauk-Suiattle Reservation at Risk from Climate Change

News

The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Reservation, including residential housing and tribal administrative offices, is at risk from flooding and erosion, according to an assessment performed by Natural Systems Design. The assessment looked at the impacts of climate change to both tribal infrastructure and the Sauk River ecosystem that supports fish and wildlife critical to the Tribe. Natural […]

Gov. Inslee visits coastal tribes

NWIFC Blog

Washington Governor Jay Inslee visited the Hoh, Quileute and Makah tribes Friday and heard a number of environmental concerns. See the article in the Peninsula Daily News.

PDN: Jamestown S’Klallam Prepares for Climate Change

NWIFC Blog

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Chairman Ron Allen wrote a piece for the Peninsula Daily News about the tribe’s effort to prepare for climate change. The tribe underwent an extensive study recently to determine the tribal community’s vulnerability to risks such as sea level rise. From the column: The Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, with the help of Adaptation […]

ICTM: How Tribes Are Addressing Climate Change

NWIFC Blog

Indian Country Today Media Network posted a story about eight tribes, two from within Western Washington, that are ahead of the curve when it comes to adapting to climate change. The Swinomish Tribe and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe were the two highlighted from the Pacific Northwest. Since passing a climate change proclamation in 2007, the Swinomish […]

Champions for Change: Johnstone honored by White House

News, NWIFC Blog

Ed Johnstone, Quinault Indian Nation fisheries and ocean policy spokesperson, was recognized at a White House ceremony as part of the Champions for Change program April 11. Johnstone was lauded along with 11 other citizens, businesses and community leaders who are Champions of Change working to prepare their communities for the consequences of climate change. […]

Facing Climate Change features Swinomish Tribe in video

NWIFC Blog, Video

The documentary team of Benjamin Drummond and Sara Joy Steele featured the Swinomish Tribe in a video on the Facing Climate Change website. Facing Climate Change: Coastal Tribes from Benjamin Drummond / Sara Steele on Vimeo. The Swinomish Tribe has lived on the coasts of the Salish Sea for thousands of years. Today, rising seas […]

Ocean Acidification Explained

NWIFC Blog

During the First Stewards climate change symposium last year, Dr. Simone Alin made a well-received presentation describing the process of ocean acidification. Alin is an oceanographer and marine chemist at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle. As the state of Washington begins to attempt to address an issue that threatens both tribal and non-tribal communities alike, […]

Sauk-Suiattle Tribe plans for climate change

Lead Story, News

The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe is studying how climate change will affect members of the tribe and the natural resources that sustain them. “The tribe values a healthy river as equal to a healthy and vibrant human community,” said Jason Joseph, Sauk-Suiattle natural resources director. “This project will be a case study of sustainability in the face […]

EarthFix runs story about effects of climate change on tribes

NWIFC Blog

KCTS9 EarthFix will be running a segment about the effects of climate change on Northwest tribes starting next week. The story is available online now. “Without everything that’s alive, the treaties are not worth anything,” (NWIFC Chairman Billy) Frank said. Today, Pacific salmon are facing yet another threat, which Frank fears could drive them to […]