Asserting Native Resilience
Asserting Native Resilience
Pacific Rim Indigenous Nations Face the Climate Crisis
Indigenous nations are on the frontline of the climate crisis of the21st century with cultures and economies that are among themost vulnerable to climate-related catastrophes. Native peoples aroundthe Pacific Rim are also demonstrating historical resilience bydeveloping responses to climate change that can serve as a model forNative and non-Native communities alike.
Native American nations in the Pacific Northwest and Indigenouspeoples around the Pacific Rim have been deeply affected by droughts,flooding, reduced glaciers and snowmelts that harm fish habitats,seasonal shifts in winds and storms, the northward shifting of specieson the land and in the ocean, and many other factors that affecttribes’ ability to continue cultural lifeways and treaty rights.Native peoples have survived the deep historical trauma and ecologicalwounds inflicted by colonization, epidemics, industrialization andurbanization. Indigenous peoples are creating defenses to harden theircommunities, mitigate losses, and adapt where possible, using tools ofresilience that can have historically enabled tribes to respond tosudden environmental changes.
This anthology reflects different perspectives on Indigenous responsesto the climate crisis, including the voices of traditional triballeadership, Native and non-Native scientists, scholars and activistsfrom the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Alaska, and Aotearoa /New Zealand. The book will be an important reference for students ofEnvironmental Studies, Native Studies, geography, rural sociology, andother disciplines examining climate change.Tribute to RenéeKlosterman
Foreword: Looking Ahead: Northwest Tribes’ Responses toClimate Change / Billy Frank, Jr. (Nisqually), Chair, North WestIndian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC)
Volume Introduction / Alan Parker (Chippewa-Cree), Evergreenfaculty, NIARI Director; Zoltán Grossman, Evergreen faculty, NIARIsenior research associate
Part 2: Cultural Perspectives
Part Introduction
Indigenous Declarations on the Climate Crisis
Anchorage Declaration of Indigenous Peoples Global Summit on ClimateChange;
International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change policypaper;
Mystic Lake Declaration of Native Peoples/ Native Homelands IIworkshop 2009;
Native Peoples/Native Homelands 1998 North American IndigenousConcerns
Alaska: Testimony from the Frontlines / Mike Williams (Yupiaq),co-chair of the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council
Sharing One Skin / Jeannette Armstrong (Okanagan Syilx),En’owkin Centre executive director, Penticton, BritishColumbia
Where Words Touch the Earth: Tribal Students Produce a ClimateChange Video on the Coast Salish Moons / Greg Mahle (Upper Skagit)and Lexie Tom (Lummi), Northwest Indian College, Lummi Nation
Watching for the Signs / Chief Willie Charlie, Chehalis(Sts’Ailes), First Nation Chief; Vice-President of Union of B.C.Indian Chiefs
Different Ways of Looking at Things / Larry Merculieff (Aleut),Seven Generations Consulting, Pribilof Islands, Alaska
Part 3: Effects of the Climate Crisis
Part Introduction
Impacts on Northwest Tribes / Terry Williams (Tulalip) andPreston Hardison, Tulalip Tribes natural resources staff
Climate Change Implications for Quileute and Hoh Tribes ofWashington / Chelsie Papiez, Evergreen graduate student; NOAAFellow.
Maori Perspectives on Climate Change / Brett Ata Stephenson(Maori), Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences at the Maoriuniversity Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi
Impacts of Global Climate Change / Brad Burnham, Evergreengraduate student
Effects of Climate Change on Women's and Children'sHealth / Debra McNutt, Evergreen graduate student, for theCommunity Alliance and Peacemaking Project
Part 4: Current Responses
Part Introduction
Indigenous Responses to the International Climate Change Framework /Zoltán Grossman, Evergreen faculty, NIARI senior researchassociate
On Our Own Adapting to Climate Change / Rudolph C. Rÿser(Cowlitz), Chair, Center for World Indigenous Studies
Swinomish Climate Change Initiative / Excerpts from Draft ImpactAssessment Technical Report and Climate Adaptation Action Plan
Honorable Community Engagement / Shelly Vendiola(Swinomish/Lummi/Filipina), Swinomish Climate Change Initiative’sClimate Change Education and Awareness Group
Native Renewable Energies / Articles on the national overviewand Tulalip’s Qualco Energy biogas project
Part 5: Possible Paths
Part Introduction
Kaua e mangere — Do Not Be Idle: Maori Responses in a Time ofClimate Change / Brett “Ata” Stephenson (Maori)environmental scientist
Potential Paths for Native Nations / Laural Ballew (Lummi) andRenée Klosterman, Evergreen graduate students
No Longer the “Miner’s Canary”: IndigenousNations’ Responses to Climate Change / Zoltán Grossman,Evergreen faculty, NIARI senior research associate
Recommendations to Indigenous Government Leadership / AlanParker (Chippewa-Cree), Evergreen faculty, NIARI Director
Back matter/Resources
Native Climate Change Resource Directory / Jamie Bown, Evergreenstudent, NIARI research associate, and Zoltán Grossman
Listing of Indigenous governments, NGOs and communities researchingand responding to climate change
Northwest Tribes: Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change
Community Organizing Booklet, edited by Debra McNutt, NIARI researchassociate
Contributors’ Biographies
