Tribes: Pacific Northwest

Pacific Northwest

Climate Change and the Coquille Indian Tribe:
Planning for the effects of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Click HERE for PDF version.


Background
Regardless of the causes, members of the Coquille Indian Tribe are observing changes locally in the forest, prairies, streams, and ocean, in precipitation patterns, stronger storms, temperature extremes and fluctuation, and in the timing of seasons and processes like flowering and migration. Because of the potential risks climate change poses, the Coquille Indian Tribe is taking steps to prepare for the effects of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Tribe has begun taking steps to reduce risks and plan for adapting to changes already underway. By understanding the current and expected impacts from climate change, the Coquille Tribe seeks to prepare the tribal government offices, including health, housing, emergency services, planning, infrastructure and transportation, as well as tribal businesses, and natural and cultural resources.

Coquille Tribe Climate Action Plan Initiative
In addition to continuing current efforts, the Tribe is preparing a Climate Action Plan, a more detailed and informed plan that incorporates insight and knowledge from Tribal members, the Tribe’s natural resources and planning staff, information and data from climate scientists, research and other organizations dedicated to climate issues, and the assistance and resources available from local, state and federal government.

The plan will help to further identify local risks to Coquille Tribal land and natural resources, infrastructure and transportation systems, and in turn, the Tribe’s culture, economy, health, and safety. Additionally, impacts to other regions of the northwest and the world that may also bring adverse local impacts will be investigated. Building on the traditions and values of the Tribal community, the Coquille Indian Tribe is focused on developing a plan to adapt to the challenges presented by climate change and related threats to the tribe’s well-being.

Key Concerns and Potential Impacts to the Coquille Tribe from Climate Change
Temperature variation Warmer – drought, species migration
Colder – reduced agricultural production
Sea level rise Inundate roads, bridges, cut off reservation
Impact homes, buildings – Mill Casino Hotel & RV
Seasonal fluctuations Affect pollination and growing season timing, including cranberry pollination and production
Affect salmon runs and subsistence fishing
Extremes, variability Increases risk of flooding, storm surges, droughts and wildfires
Pests and disease Affect cranberry, timber production and harvests
Spread Swiss Needle Cast fungus
Increase red tides, toxic algae
Habitat changes, species Affect economic, cultural, and wildlife resources
Increase invasive species: wildlife predators, Gorse
Reduced ability to gather traditional and wild foods
shifting Affect traditional knowledge and cultural food traditions: eels, clams, oysters, cockles, mussels, crab, salmon
Affect species mix, habitat characteristics
Impact fish runs - Humboldt squid, SF Sea Lions, Pelicans (which eat our fish and shellfish)


Tribal Strategies to Address Climate Change
The Coquille Tribe is actively engaged in addressing climate change. Currently, the tribe is focused on building capacity within the Tribal government to understand the impacts of climate change, engaging the tribal community in climate change discourse, and strengthening collaboration and partnerships with non-tribal organizations within the region. The Tribe has committees in place to identify and investigate the issues, including the Climate Change Committee and the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Mitigation Committee. The Tribe also has programs and procedures in place that will help in planning and preparation, including the following efforts:


A Study on Climate Change Adaptation and Planning for Cultural and Natural Resource Resilience
In 2009, Katie MacKendrick, a University of Oregon graduate student, conducted her Master’s thesis research to understand the key considerations in planning for climate change adaptation, particularly for natural resource and cultural resilience for two tribes in the Pacific Northwest. To accomplish this, Katie examined the vulnerability, capacity, and foundation within the two tribes’ for addressing climate change based on experience in natural and cultural resource management. Katie’s study resulted in case studies on the Hoopa Valley Indian Tribe and the Coquille Indian Tribe and explored climate adaptation planning and the abilities of the tribes to prepare for, respond to and cope with the impacts of climate change.

Findings from the case studies included key considerations regarding natural and cultural resources, jobs and the economy and policy and legal actions to explore related to climate change, among others. To review Katie’s full thesis, visit: https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/handle/1794/10022



Tribal Governance and Climate Change Action:

In 2008, The Coquille Indian Tribe established a Climate Change Committee. Tribal Council tasked the committee with the following activities:

The Coquille Indian Tribe Land Resources and Environmental Services Program is responsible for organizing and staffing Committee meetings.

Project Contacts:



Funding to develop this project profile was provided by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Tribal Climate Change Profile Project:

The University of Oregon and the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station are embarking on a project to develop tribal climate change project profiles as a pathway to increasing knowledge among tribal and non-tribal organizations interested in learning about climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Each profile is intended to illustrate innovative approaches to addressing climate change challenges and will describe the successes and lessons learned associated with planning and implementation. For more information, contact:

* This item was added to the website with support from the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Sustainable Northwest, and the University of Oregon.

For more information please contact:
Nikki Cooley, Co-Director
928/523-7046
Nikki.Cooley@nau.edu
Karen Cozzetto, Co-Manager
928/523-6758
Karen.Cozzetto@nau.edu