Through the support of Epsilon Sigma Phi RISING VOICES 3 CONFERENCE Bringing Together Science and Indigenous Ways of Knowing to Create Positive Solutions National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, Colorado June 29-July 1, 2015 A Summary of Learning and Sharing by Cathy Techtmann-UW Extension Environment Outreach Specialist NCAR Conference Site

Boulder, Colorado is a progressive college community with a vibrant downtown There many signs that the community is adopting sustainable, carbon neutral strategies

Boulder has experienced impacts from climate change causing excessive melting of mountain snowpack Significant flooding of Boulder Creek in 2013 caused loss in property and lives This marker shows the water depth at the flood’s peak approx. 30 feet

The Rising Voices Conference started with ceremony and prayer This spiritual beginning brought everyone together in a good way to share and learn. Over 100 representatives from Tribal Nations, non-tribal governments, researchers, elders, and students attended A tradition Hawaiian robe presented an elder’s honor

Engage communities in designing climate-change solutions Create an environment of mutual respect for multiple ways of knowing Directly assist communities in achieving their adaptation goals Promote partnerships that foster effective climate solutions from both western and indigenous perspectives Foster regional and international networking to share climate solutions Rising Voices 3 Conference Goals

Despite keen awareness of climate change, indigenous people have limited participation in climate-change science …. yet indigenous communities are being the most affected by climate change. Indigenous people have limited access… there are power imbalances… there differences in world view. Western Science emphasizes facts … Indigenous view emphasizes relationships to spiritual and biophysical components and indicate important and distinct contributions that each knowledge system can make. The key points emphasized through the proceedings….

PRESENTATION SESSIONS Representatives of indigenous communities shared how climate change is affecting their culture and communities and what they are doing to foster resiliency. There were hopeful stories…. indigenous Pacific Islanders are restoring breadfruit agroforestry after 200 years of land & water degradation of western pineapple plantations. There were difficult stories… this Alaskan elder tells of his village being by flooded by rising sea levels and facing relocation.

Native early career researchers & youth presented of research documenting climate change impacts on Native communities and responses Climate change impacts on phenologies of culturally important plant species on the Leech Lake Ojibwe Reservation. Decline of jack pine on the Chippewa National Forest due to climate change. Climate impacts on a NW Pacific Tribe that is landlocked. The map shows their only evacuation route as sea level rises and tsunami threats increase. “Most of use say we are going to stay… I’ve made my life living off the land and water and it’s my turn to give something back I’ll go with it.” - Native community member

Questions posed by a panel of Native student researchers challenged us, no matter what tribe we were from What does climate change mean to you? Is your tribe discussing climate change and variability? Have you experienced or observed any changes in the climate? Has there been any extreme weather events that have affected your tribe that has had long-term effects? What is the biggest concern today impacting your tribe today related to weather/climate change?

www. sustainabledevelopmentinstitute.org Representatives from the College of the Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) shared the SDI Theoretical Model of Sustainability as a culturally relevant approach to climate change.

As part of the “Learning by Doing” Panel, I presented the G-WOW Changing Climate, Changing Culture climate literacy model This was the only presentation at the conference that focused on strategies for communicating about climate change by integrating indigenous perspectives with western science.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS gave participants the opportunity to contribute recommendations on action items from the previous conference (Rising Voices 2) The breakout sessions included: WATER PHENOLOGY (plants & animals) HEALTH & LIVIHOODS RELOCATION Results were incorporated into indigenous people’s recommendations presented at 2015 Paris Climate Conference

POSTER SESSION provided a variety of research-based projects documenting climate impacts on Native nations and resiliency responses to learn from.

PUBLIC DIALOGUE SESSION The Rising Voices Conference also included a public information program on Indigenous Peoples in the Global Climate Change. This open invitation conversation was held one evening in the Courtroom of the University of Colorado Wolf Law School. Panel and audience members shared stories of climate and cultural resiliency. At University of Colorado Law SchoolWolf Law School Courtroom public dialogue session

CONFERENCE OUTCOMES 1.Developing new adaptation partnerships…. New insights were gained in tribal adaptation and resiliency strategies to integrate into Extension climate change outreach. 2. Ideas for new/modified curricula in climate science and adaption…. Sharing the G-WOW Changing Climate, Changing Climate Model, offered a new climate change curricula that integrated indigenous perspectives with western climate science to encourage adaptation and resiliency. 3.Evaluating scientific and indigenous partnerships and collaboration… Many new partnerships and collaboration on climate change education were established that will help make climate outreach more culturally relevant. 4.Joint written products, proceedings, reports… Catalyzing action to policy audiences, such as Congress, IPCC…. Recommendations from Rising Voices were presented at the 2015 International Paris Climate Change Summit. Outcome statements by Preston Haridson & Karelta Chief

As a result of attending & presenting at Rising Voices 3 the G-WOW Climate Literacy Model has been included in NOAA’s US Climate Resiliency Toolkit changing-culture-initiative

National advocacy for consideration and partnership of tribes Increased funding for tribes but not significant National advocacy to protect tribes and Traditional Ecological Knowledge More work to do – education, partnership, outreach, and planning! Conference recommendations

Participation Rising Voices 3 Conference Continues To inform the development of the G-WOW Changing Climate, Changing Culture Model climate change educational outreach. strengthen and expand partnerships with tribal climate researchers and educational outreach specialists. provide research-based information and culturally relevant perspectives that is being shared with others through Extension outreach.

Miigwech-Thank you Epsilon Sigma Phi for supporting me to participate and present At the Rising Voices 3 Conference!