Building Authentic Collaborations with Tribal Communities
A Living Reference for Climate Practitioners
In 2021, the Climate Science Alliance and the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SWCASC) co-hosted the Southwest Adaptation Forum (SWAF), which included an engaging training experience for climate practitioners interested in fostering meaningful engagement with Tribal communities.
Together, we strive to facilitate regular conversations on how we can cultivate meaningful and authentic collaborations with Indigenous communities and improve equity and inclusion for our staff, our projects, and within our network. Our work is successful when we are able to lift others’ voices up, make sure that climate conversations are accessible and relatable, and ensure that Indigenous ways of knowing are at the forefront of climate adaptation work.
Adapted from the 2021 SWAF Attendee Workbook, each section of this resource guide provides important information, key resources, and listed actions to take prior to reaching out to build new relationships with Tribal communities.
By sharing resources from this important discussion, our hope is that others will do their due diligence in expanding their understanding and moving their work forward in a good way where all people are valued for who they are and what knowledge they hold.
Resource Menu
UNDERSTANDING TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY
Understand different aspects of sovereignty, including political Tribal sovereignty, Indigenous data sovereignty, and the rights of nature.
Building Understanding
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There are currently 574 federally recognized Tribes
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“Indian reservations are lands reserved in treaties, by executive order, or congressional acts. They are not gifts from the federal government to Tribes; they are products of massive land cessions by Tribes that created the United States” - Dina Gilio-Whitaker
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On March 3, 1819, the Civilization Fund Act ushered in an era of assimilationist policies, leading to the Indian boarding-school era, which lasted from 1860 to 1978. Thousands of Native American children were forced to attend boarding schools created to strip them of their culture.
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On May 9, 2019, the Yurok Tribal Council passed a resolution declaring the rights of the Klamath River and provided a legal avenue for the Klamath River to have its rights adjudicated in Yurok Tribal Court
Tribal Nations and the United States: An Introduction
by: National Congress of American Indians
Provides a basic overview of the history and underlying principles of Tribal governance and information for the public at large to understand and engage effectively with contemporary Indian Nations.
by: High Country News
Nearly 11 million acres of Indigenous land. Approximately 250 Tribal nations. Over 160 violence-backed treaties and land seizures. Fifty-two universities. Discover the bloody history behind land-grant universities.
The Native Land Digital Map highlights traditional territories, treaties, and languages across the United States, Canada, and beyond. Use this interactive resource to understand and acknowledge the traditional lands on which you work and live.
List of Federal and State Recognized Tribes
The following state-by-state listing of Indian Tribes or groups are federally recognized and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The list also includes Indian Tribes or groups that are recognized by the states, when the state has established such authority. This acknowledges their status within the state but does not guarantee funding from the state or the federal government.
American Indian Law in a Nutshell
by: William C. Canby, Jr.
by: Vine Deloria, Jr.
by: Dina Gilio-Whitaker
Resources
What You Can Do
Identify who’s homelands you reside and work on.
Upon acknowledging who’s land you're on, take the time to learn about the people and communities that are still alive and present.
Identify treaties and court cases related to local Tribes to learn more about how their sovereignty came to be.
Offer equal authorship to your Tribal partners on the publication that are created from the project experience.
Tribal governments are sovereign nations and community leaders should be afforded the same respect and regard as you would give to the leaders of any country.
PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVE LISTENING
Understand the importance of active listening when engaging with Tribal communities.
Building Understanding
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Each Tribal nation has different discourse styles, including length of response time, traditional protocols to follow and vocabulary.
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Incentives and gift-giving are considered common practice to express appreciation for the exchange of time. This is often demonstrated in bringing food / having parking passes for meetings, and ensuring the comfort of guests and the space that you have invited them to.
Active Listening: The Story of Water
by: Melodie Lopez
Guidance and Responsibilities for Effective Tribal Consultation, Communication, and Engagement
by: Members of the West Coast Tribal Caucus of the West Coast Alliance
A guide for agencies working with West Coast Tribes on Ocean and Coastal Issues.
Tribal Relations & Traditional Knowledge
by: Crystal Leonetti
A presentation by the first Indigenous woman to ever serve as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American liaison.
Changing the Narrative About Native Americans: A Guide for Allies
by: Reclaiming Native Truth (Echo Hawk Consulting and First Nations Development Institute)
The Reclaiming Native Truth initiative is designed to eradicate harmful and toxic narratives, stereotypes, structural and institutional racism, dehumanization, and the invisibility of Native Americans.
Resources
What You Can Do
In your meetings and interactions, observe how others “listen”. Write down what you can learn from their listening skills.
List a few ways of how you might demonstrate active listening.
When you wish to ask a question or add to the conversation, consider counting slowly to 10. Consider if a response is needed at all.
List a few things that we accomplish as a whole when we listen.
