1. BIA Climate Science Coordinator
BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program and Southern Florida-Carribean CESU
Rachael Novak
BIA Climate Science Coordinator
October 21, 2016
RN- CS Coordinator; SH is CC Coord
I focus on coord and delivery of science and tools and also a good deal of our youth pgm; SH focuses on higher mgmt level coordination across DOI and BIA
Navajo, Clans
Originally from NM, AZ, UT- in DC for a while now, was at EPA, now at BIA

2. BIA Mission
“Enhance the quality of life, promote the economic opportunity, and carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives.”
Organization:
Central Office (Washington, DC and satellite offices)
Trust services, Indian Education, Justice Services, Social Services
Trust services divisions: Real Estate, Natural Resources, Forestry and Wildland Fire Management, Water and Power
12 Regional Offices

3. BIA’s 12 Regions
BIA’s Eastern Agency is huge!

4. So FL-Carribean CESU and federally-recognized tribes
BIA’s Eastern Region supports 29 federally-recognized tribes
Regional Office (Nashville, TN)
Serves 29 tribes
3 Agency Offices of the Region
Eastern Cherokee Agency
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Choctaw Agency
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Seminole Agency
Seminole Nation of Florida
Miccosukee Tribe

5. Eastern Region’s Strategic Goals & Objectives
Protect tribal and individual Indians natural, cultural and heritage resources.
Manage resources to promote responsible use and sustain a dynamic economy.
Provide economic and cultural opportunities for Indian country.
Safeguard property and financial assets, advance scientific knowledge, and improve the quality of life for the Indian communities we serve.
Empower the Eastern Regional Workforce to become highly skilled, functionally integrated and results-oriented.

6. A Few Priorities in Southern FL
3 tribes w/interest in Peninsular FL
Seminole Nation (of Oklahoma)
Seminole Tribe of Florida
Miccosukee Tribe of Florida
Highest concerns
Water quality in Everglades
Invasive spp. and T&E species
BIA funds tribes in So. FL water program support and smaller grants for water management, invasive spp., and ag.
For more info, contact Leonard Rawlings:

7. BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program
Where we invest:
Planning, training & new information
Program implementation is the program’s responsibility
Reevaluation
Strategic planning
FY13-17
FY13-17
Planning Staff Capacity
Vulnerability Assessments, Data & Tools
Monitoring
Our program is only a few years old, but the focus of the investments has always been on planning, training, helping tribes better understand their vulnerability to climate, and providing data and tools so you can incorporate climate into the programs.
What we assume is that by incorporating climate into the early steps in the lives of you pgms/projects, your program will be more resilient to changes in climate [-but that will require monitoring of the revised program and re-evaluation to confirm that the way you’ve modified your program is making it more resilient to climate.]
FY13-17
Programmatic Plans
Implementation

8. BIA Climate Awards and CESU
Annual BIA Competitive Climate Funding:
ocean and coastal management planning and travel support
Training and travel
climate change adaptation
planning, vulnerability assessments, supplemental monitoring
youth internships
Applied for partnership in 14/17 CESUs in 2015 and 2016.
Impetus: BIA climate awards…but, any BIA program may use this partnership
Let tribes know about these opportunities and CESU partnerships

9. BIA and CESU Network
Remember: tribes drive decisions on what they want in terms of research projects. They are sovereign Nations and BIA has a trust responsibility.
What can you do?
Learn about tribal priorities
Get the word out and let partners know about your expertise and the CESUs partnership benefits. Mention BIA is a partner!

10. BIA Tribal Climate Resilience: BIA Eastern Regional Climate Contact:
Questions?
BIA Tribal Climate Resilience:
Rachael Novak,
BIA Eastern Regional Climate Contact:
Harold Peterson: