Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Climate Science to Enhance Climate Resilience of Tribal Communities

Abstract:

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Western climate science represent complementary and overlapping views of the causes and consequences of change. TEK observations and documentation of changes in abundance, distribution, phenology, or behavior of the natural environment, including plants and animals can be beneficial in western science paradigms. Indigenous Traditional Knowledge holders, demonstrate that assumptions about the nature, perception, utilization of time and timing can differ across knowledge systems in regard to climate change. These patterns and events of change have far reaching impacts, not only for Indigenous communities but for the general populace as well.

The focus on relationality predisposes Indigenous communities to notice, and document, interactional changes among humans and other species, to be sensitive to smaller scale examples of change, to be more likely to see climate change as part of a broader time scale, and to link changes to a greater suite of socio-political phenomena, including the long arc of colonialism. One implication of this documentation along with the interactions among humans and other species is that policies restricting Native and non-Native access to resources such as hunting, gathering, and fishing, to certain calendar seasons may need to be revisited in a changing climate.

To assist tribal communities in addressing these unique climate change issues, we have developed a tribal climate adaptation guidebook to help tribes navigate integrating TEK with western science in order to enhance the tribe’s own planning and resilience. The first and core step of the guidebook is to ground the adaptation and resilience effort in the tribe’s vision and priorities. The other four steps, which may be nonlinear and iterative, are identifying concerns and gathering information, assessing vulnerability, planning for action, and implementing and monitoring action. The guidebook acknowledges the value of multiple knowledges at all steps in the climate adaptation planning process. Future work will include creating an online, interactive format of the guidebook.