|
The Suquamish Tribal Council began its Earth Day 2022 statement with a quote from Chief Seattle:
“Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove … even the rocks, which seem to be dumb and dead as the swelter in the sun along the silent shore, thrill with memories of stirring events connected with the lives of my people, and the very dust upon which you now stand responds more lovingly to their footsteps than yours, because it is rich with the blood of our ancestors, and our bare feet are conscious of the sympathetic touch.”
This message is a reminder of Tribes’ deep respect for the land and sea and the interconnectedness of living things—a respect that is demonstrated by the important work Tribes are undertaking to protect, enhance, and restore the natural environment.
As climate change brings more frequent droughts, worsening wildfires, and rising sea levels, Tribes across Washington manage natural resources and solve problems at the ecosystem level to sustain and protect the environment and resources for many generations to come.
In recognition of Earth Day 2022, here are just a few examples of the vital work Tribes are doing to restore and protect the Earth:
Yakama Forest Management
The Yakama Nation’s 1.4 million-acre reservation includes 650,000 acres of forest and woodlands, which provide water, food, medicine, spiritual values, employment, and revenue for the Yakama People. The benefits of these lands can’t be taken for granted and Yakama Nation leaders are rising to the challenge of climate change and taking a strategic approach to forest management. The Yakama Nation is involved in several forest management collaborations, including the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative, a partnership of five major land managers—the Yakama Nation, the Nature Conservancy, the US Forest Service, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The Collaborative works in the Central Washington Cascades to coordinate, fund, and implement restoration projects and create a resilient forest ecosystem.
Learn more on the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative website.
Quillayute River Restoration
Climate change has brought more frequent and intense flooding to the Quileute Tribe’s reservation, located on the Washington coast, at the mouth of the Quillayute River. Without intervention, the river threatens to change course and wipe out the village of La Push and most other tribal lands, including the traditional fishing area known as Thunder Field. The Quileute Tribe is working to restore the Quillayute River to protect its lands and the salmon species that rely on the Quillayute River. The Tribe’s restoration efforts rely on green infrastructure techniques, including planting more trees and native plants along the river and introducing engineered logjams to help trap sediment and create cold water pools for adult fish to spawn and young fry to hide. Logjams also slow the river’s flow, allowing the groundwater to recharge. These efforts not only protect the environment but may also protect people’s lives.
Learn more about the Quileute Tribe’s river restoration work in this article from the Wild Salmon Center.
Swinomish Climate Change Initiative
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’s Climate Change Initiative was established in response to the significant threats that climate change poses to the Swinomish reservation. The Initiative directs tribal departments and staff to undertake studies and promote efforts focused on long-term proactive action against climate change impacts like storm surges, flooding, erosion from wind and wave actions, and impacts to tribal fisheries resources. The Tribe’s adaptation actions are addressing climate impacts like inundation of tidelands, shellfish beds, loss of spawning habitat, changes to wetland/estuary habitat, changes in wildlife forage resources, and culvert failure, among others. The Tribe has also developed a set of community-wide Indigenous health indicators to gauge progress.
Learn more about the Swinomish Climate Change Initiative on the Swinomish-Climate website.
|
