ASSERTING NATIVE RESILIENCE : Pacific Rim Indigenous Nations Face the Climate Crisis (Oregon State University Press, 2012) Anthology edited by Zoltán Grossman and Alan Parker, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington

Resilience #1: Traditional Ecological Knowledge “Native Science” (Greg Cajete) Place-based knowledge (geography), Time-tested knowledge (history) Indigenous harvesters’ observations offer early warning system. Western Science research process slower to publish and react. Hanta virus origins Early bloom signals season change

Resilience #2: Indigenous sovereignty Indigenous peoples, cultures have survived colonization, epidemics, industrialization, assimilation, pollution, urbanization Tribal sovereignty offers partial shield for testing methods of sustainability, building community, unity with other peoples

Threats to fishery Declined spring snowpack reduce summer streamflows Earlier and quicker spring melts create floods, throw off timing of ecosystem relationships Higher stream water temps, ocean acidification, hypoxia (oxygen starvation) harm fish and habitat Dead Zone From hypoxia Skokomish flood

Local emergency planning Tribes & neighbors can only rely on each other in an emergency— not FEMA. Umatilla Skokomish Tribes as models to non-Indian neighbors (2005 tsunami alert) Local and tribal governments sharing equipment, resources

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 nations Coast Salish Gathering of leaders from BC and WA Suquamish canoe family visits 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 1 st 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 our ecosystem, whoever we are and whatever we do. Once people understand this, we will all be able to join hands in dealing with the environmental challenges that face us. Where we must adapt, we will be able to do so. Where we can help Nature to prevent human tragedies that will otherwise occur—by curtailing environmental damage, conserving resources, and restoring habitat for fish and wildlife—we will do so, together. --Billy Frank, Jr. --Billy Frank, Jr. (in Foreword) (in Foreword)