Climate Change: Engage Tribes as Partners and Not Applicants

It is encouraging that government agencies are working together to shift their understanding of sustainable practice towards greater stewardship and equitable approaches to the wealth gap. These principles are essential to combating global climate change. This shift will have profound impacts on financial and governmental systems worldwide. This has led to both federal and private funders showing a lot more interest in investing in Indian Country to support climate resilience and adaptation efforts.

Keep in mind that Native American communities have lived in harmony and peace with nature in the United States. Over 10,000 years. They have developed natural and traditional solutions to adapt to environmental changes over hundreds of years and have shown remarkable resilience in the face of government attempts to destroy their communities. Tribal nations should be considered equal partners in climate change programs and initiatives in Indian Country.

The current government programs and prescriptive grants opportunities that were created with little or no Native input are not in line with the Constitution. Indian trust doctrinenor have long-standing Indigenous expertise as environmental and cultural stewards. Tribal leaders are able to combine traditional knowledge with Western science and practices in order to preserve their culture, heritage, and culture. This skill is beneficial to their own communities and can be used to model communities across the country.

There are many options today. 574Federally recognized tribes and villages of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, this designation establishes a nation to nation relationship with the United States. Since almost 200 yearsThis status was intended to give First Peoples greater power and control over development, including federal programs and policies, which are implemented on or within their sovereign territories. The federal government is responsible for supporting Tribal self-government as well as economic prosperity. These rights collectively require a process that goes beyond consultation. All federal agencies should offer the necessary flexibility and resources to Tribal nations in order to ensure their prosperity, especially as they move ahead with implementation of their rights. Federal Climate Adaptation Plans.

Indigenous communities are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to their deep ties to land and dependence on subsistence. This is especially important as the current climate crisis is largely driven by non-Native activities that threaten to destroy the way of life that has protected Tribal lands over many generations. Real support for Indian Country must acknowledge this fact and form true partnerships with Tribal communities as well as Native-serving organizations.

There are over 56 Million AcresHeld in trust by the federal government, hundreds of sovereign nations with unique histories or cultures, this gives Tribal partners many opportunities to work together in the fight against climate change. It begins with genuine engagement with Tribal leadership in order to learn, comprehend and embrace Native priorities and values. Agency funding must be provided for Indigenous-led processes that integrate traditional and Western practices. They must also reduce the cost and rigidity of funding allocations. This will allow agencies to design programs that respect traditional knowledge and best support Tribal traditions and heritage. This increases internal capacity by aligning funding with practices to enhance existing Tribal leadership structures, and engage Tribal youth, who already inherit the responsibility for protecting Mother Earth.

Now is the time to make a significant change and recognize the power and value of traditional knowledge and sovereignty. President Joe Biden ReaffirmedDespite the federal government’s recent commitment to trust responsibility, one doesn’t have to look far back in time to see inexcusable trust irresponsibility. Climate change offers a unique opportunity for this relationship to be restructured to one that views the other as an equal partner. Not only in legal standing but also with expert knowledge. Indigenous peoples have a lot to offer in terms of climate change and nature.

Roger Fragua, Jemez Pueblo, is executive director. Flower Hill Institute, a Native-led, serving nonprofit that serves Tribal communities across Indian Country.

Ryan Mast is the climate advisor Flower Hill InstitutePreviously, he was the head of sustainability offices in New Orleans and Albuquerque..

The views expressed in this article reflect the opinions of the writers.