The Tulalip Tribes have developed a unique and robust approach to dealing with climate change and its impacts.
Since time immemorial, the Tulalip Tribes have adapted to changes that have affected their way of life. Seeing what’s on the horizon in terms of climate, the Tribe set out to establish a Climate Change Adaptation Plan.
This established a coalition of tribal departments to work together to implement policies and procedures to strengthen the community and build resistance to the effects of climate change.
Because reservations are often isolated, their residents are more sensitive to and dependent on the environment than other communities are. As a result, the impacts of climate change may feel more immediate.
Currently, there are at least 50 Native American Tribes in the U.S. who are developing plans to address the impacts of climate change, according to a University of Oregon database.
In particular, the Tulalip Tribes and other Tribes in the Pacific Northwest are concerned about the oceans, rivers and forests that support salmon runs.
Another concern is shoreline erosion, which not only impacts infrastructure but also local plants and animals such as salmon, orcas and huckleberries. The Tulalip Tribes’ Emergency Management Department has also put together a Hazard Mitigation Plan as a means to plan for the community to be able to withstand natural disasters.
The Climate Change Adaptation Planning Team conducted a Climate Change and Hazard Mitigation (CCHM) survey, in which 44 percent of respondents noticed more extreme weather events, while 88 percent noticed higher temperatures. Eighty-four percent of respondents are either extremely-willing or very willing to change their behavior to help reduce the effects of climate change.
For the Tulalip Tribes, fighting climate change is not just a legislative priority. The whole community gets involved to make a difference.
PSRC and the Tulalip Tribes are members of the Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative, a network of local and tribal governments, regional agencies, and organizations in the Puget Sound region working together to ensure that the economy, environment, and all residents are resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Furthermore, PSRC has a whole new climate change chapter in VISION 2050, which aims to prepare the region for growth and serve as a guide for sustaining a healthy environment, thriving communities and a strong economy.
Read more about what the Tulalip Tribes are doing to combat climate change in this article which appeared in Planning.org in November 2021.