of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Circular 1396
Front cover:

Photograph by Troy, Sia; used with permission.
Tribal Engagement Strategy

of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014

By William J. Andrews, April Taylor, and Kimberly T. Winton

Circular 1396

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the

South Central Climate Science Center
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014

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Suggested citation:

Andrews, W.J., Taylor, April, and Winton, K.T., 2014, Tribal engagement strategy of the South Central Climate Science 

Center, 2014: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1396, 35 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/cir1396.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

South Central Climate Science Center (U.S.)

 Tribal engagement strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014 / by William J. Andrews, April Taylor, 

and Kimberly T. Winton ; prepared in cooperation with the South Central Climate Science Center.

 pages cm. -- (Circular ; 1396)

 Includes bibliographical references and index.

 ISBN 978-1-4113-3818-0 (alk. paper)

 1. South Central Climate Science Center (U.S.) 2. Climatic changes--Environmental aspects--Unite States. 3. 

Traditional ecological knowledge--United States. 4. Indigenous peoples--Ecology--United States. 5. Indians of North 

America--Education. 6. Climatic change mitigation--United States. I. Andrews, William J., 1962- II. Taylor, April 

Lynne. III. Winton, Kim, 1960- IV. Title.

 QC903.2.U6S63 2014

 363.738’7408997073--dc23

 2014032170

ISSN 1067-084X (print)

ISSN 2330-5703 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/cir1396
iii

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Kristen Kordecki, formerly of the Gulf Coast Prairie Landscape Conservation 

Cooperative, for developing original ideas and the outline of this circular, as well as Troy at Sia, 

the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative, for the many beautiful photographs that 

he provided. The authors appreciate the colleague review done by Michael Langston, Oklahoma 

State University.

The authors also appreciate the colleague review done by Monique Fordham, U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS), and thank S. Jerrod Smith, USGS, for his assistance with selected figures in 

this circular.
iv
v

Contents

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Climate Change .....................................................................................................................................1

Climate Science Centers .....................................................................................................................2

Collaboration with Tribes and Other Groups ....................................................................................5

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................7

Climate Change and Tribes...........................................................................................................................8

Leveraging Climate-Change Funds for Tribes and Studies Related to Tribal Lands...........................8

Assisting Development of Projects and Adaptation Strategies...........................................................11

Inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge Where Appropriate and Acceptable........................................11

Future Education and Outreach Classes .................................................................................................12

Tribal Environmental Staffs ...............................................................................................................12

Tribal Educators and Students..........................................................................................................12

Structured Decision Making......................................................................................................................13

Guidance on Climate-Change Grants and Resources Available from

the U.S. Geological Survey and Other Agencies ......................................................................14

Summary........................................................................................................................................................14

References....................................................................................................................................................14

Appendixes ...................................................................................................................................................17

Figures

1. Map showing regional Climate Science Center areas ..........................................................3

2. Map showing Landscape Conservation Cooperative areas in the

south central United States ........................................................................................................4

3. Map showing Native American population density in the continental

United States by county in 2010 .................................................................................................9

4. Map showing tribal lands and jurisdictional areas in the primary

States of interest of the South Central Climate Science Center in the

south central United States ......................................................................................................10

5. Diagram showing the Structured Decision Making process..............................................13

Tables

1. Top 10 science priorities of the South Central Climate Science Center

compared to Landscape Conservation Cooperative science priorities

in the south central United States .............................................................................................6
vi
By William J. Andrews, April Taylor,1

 and Kimberly T. Winton

Executive Summary

The South Central Climate Science Center was established by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2012 to increase 

understanding of climate change and coordinate an effective response to climate-change effects on Native American tribes and 

natural and cultural resources that the Department manages. The eight regional Climate Science Centers of the U.S. Department 

of the Interior work closely with natural-resource management agencies, university researchers, and others such as tribes and 

private landowners on climate-change issues. The relatively large number of Native Americans in the south central United 

States and their special knowledge of changing ecosystems make working with tribes and tribal members on climate-change 

issues particularly important in this part of the Nation. This circular describes priorities of the South Central Climate Science 

Center and provides information about resources available from Climate Science Centers and partner agencies regarding climate 

change. The circular also describes how this Climate Science Center, tribes and tribal members, and others can collaborate to 

minimize potential harmful effects of climate change on human society and our surrounding ecosystems.

Introduction

Given the close association between Native American 

tribes and their surrounding ecosystems, knowledge of the 

effects of climate change and measures that can be taken to 

mitigate climate change are of special interest to tribes. Tribal 

communities typically live for longer periods of time in their 

local areas than other populations and have gained special 

insight regarding how climate has changed and what measures 

can be taken to preserve ecosystem components used for 

subsistence, medical purposes, and ceremonies (Wildcat, 

2013). The South Central Climate Science Center (SC CSC) 

wishes to share climate-change and climate-change-mitigation 

information with tribes and to receive feedback from tribal 

members regarding how ecosystems and economic structures 

can be maintained as climate changes.

Climate Change

The fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental 

Panel on Climate Change (2007) described how emissions of 

greenhouse gases and aerosols, land-surface properties, and 

solar radiation have combined to contribute to warming of the 

global climate system, melting of snow and ice, and increasing 

sea levels. Even if concentrations of manmade gases and 

aerosols were to remain constant, additional warming of 

about 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.4 degrees Fahrenheit) would 

occur in the coming decades (Intergovernmental Panel on 

Climate Change, 2007), causing substantial changes in 

weather patterns.

Many natural systems are being affected by climate 

change. For example, temperature increases over the past 

century have caused altered hydrologic cycles, changes in 

the timing of biological events such as spring leaf emergence, 

shifts in the geographic ranges of plant and animal species, 

increased mortality of some species, more severe weather 

events, and additional erosion, submergence, and saltwater encroachment along coastlines (Intergovernmental 

Panel on Climate Change, 2007). To mitigate the effects 

of climate change, measures such as carbon sequestration, 

increased use of renewable energy, and conservation of 

energy are being pursued. To adapt to the changes brought 

about by higher temperatures, societies have (a) begun to 

develop new agricultural practices, (b) relocated, and (c) 

redesigned infrastructure. Information about these changes 

needs to be conveyed, both by funding relevant science 

and broadly disseminating the results of that science, 

particularly to groups most likely to be affected by climate 

change. Indigenous peoples, such as Native Americans, 

may be especially susceptible to the effects of climate 

change because of strong cultural links to their surroundings 

and reliance on local ecosystems to supply native foods 

(Nakashima and others, 2012; National Climate Assessment 

Development Advisory Committee, 2013). 1

Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations.

Tribal Engagement Strategy

of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
2 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014

Climate Science Centers

To coordinate research about climate change, the U.S. 

Department of the Interior established eight regional Climate 

Science Centers (CSCs, fig. 1) starting in 2009 (Secretarial 

Order No. 3289; U.S. Department of the Interior, 2009). 

That Secretarial Order established an approach for applying 

scientific tools to increase understanding of climate change 

and to coordinate an effective response to climate-change 

effects on tribes, as well as on the natural and cultural 

resources that the Department manages. Goals of the CSCs 

are to

• evaluate the vulnerability of natural and cultural 

resources to climate change,

• predict changes in natural and cultural resources in 

response to climate change,

• link outputs from climate models with models that 

predict responses to climate change,

• standardize approaches to monitoring and link 

existing monitoring work to models of climate 

change and resource response,

• develop data-management policies and practices to 

ensure that data generated by the CSCs are shared 

with tribal and other decision makers for natural 

and cultural resources, and

• develop a regional science agenda that is based 

on inputs from resource managers from tribes, 

Federal and State Agencies, and Landscape 

Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs, public-private 

partnerships formed by the Department to provide 

shared science to ensure the sustainability of 

the Nation’s land, water, wildlife, and cultural 

resources; fig. 2).

The eight regional CSCs (fig. 1) are based at host 

universities with substantial expertise and partnerships in 

climate-change science. CSCs are consortiums, or single 

universities, consisting of staff, scientists, and information 

specialists from multiple partner tribes, agencies, and 

universities. The SC CSC, based in Norman, Oklahoma, 

fulfills that mission for the States of New Mexico, 

Oklahoma, and Texas. The boundaries of the regions are 

purposely “fuzzy” to enhance the national network and 

encourage partnerships across these boundaries. The SC 

CSC consortium is composed of researchers affiliated 

with the University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University, 

Oklahoma State University, the Chickasaw Nation, 

the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Louisiana State 

University, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.

The strategic science plans and research priorities of 

the CSCs are guided by stakeholder advisory committees 

(SACs) that include members from numerous tribes 

and Federal and State agencies (app. 1). SACs provide 

counsel for development and periodic updating of the 

regional 5-year science agenda for CSCs and for planning 

and implementation documents including short-term 

science plans and solicitation documents for funding 

opportunities; the SACs also provide feedback 

about how effectively CSC products meet 

stakeholders’ needs (Winton and others, 2013).

CSCs also are guided by science 

implementation panels (SIPs) composed 

of subject-matter experts from tribes, 

LCCs, and other agencies and groups 

that provide advice on annual 

priority science issues and review 

proposals for funding. SIP 

members provide guidance 

and assist in setting priorities 

for shorter term programs, 

such as year-to-year 

technical projects and 

annual priorities, and 

help to review and rank 

proposals submitted to 

CSCs for funding.
Figure 1. Regional Climate Science Center areas. laf14-0646_fig 01

100°W 90°W 80°W 

120°W 110°W

40°N

30°N

50°N

0 200 400 600 MILES

0 200 400 600 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital dataAlbers Equal-Area Conic projectionNorth American Datum of 1983

70°N 160°W 140°W 180°

60°N

50°N

0 300 600 MILES0 300 600 KILOMETERS

! ! !

GUAM HAWAII

0 1,000 2,000 MILES0 1,000 2,000 KILOMETERS

140°E 180° 140°W

20°N

0°

20°S

40°S

Alaska

CSC

Pacific Islands CSC

Southeast

CSC

Northeast

CSC

Southwest

CSC

South Central

CSC

Northwest

CSC

North Central

CSC

CSC, Climat
Figure 2. Landscape Conservation Cooperative areas in the south central United States.

laf14-0646_fig 02

95° 100°

105°

35°

30°

Eastern Tallgrass Prairie

and Big Rivers

LCC

Gulf Coast Prairie

LCC

Great Plains

Desert LCC

LCC

Southern

Rockies

LCC

Gulf Coastal Plains

and Ozarks

LCC

0 100 0 100 200 300 

Base from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Information Resourcesand Technology Management, Denver, Colo., 2010North American Lambert Conformal Conic projectionStandard parallels 25 ̊05' N and 35 ̊30' NCentral meridian 96 ̊00' WNorth American Datum of 1983

LCC, Landscape Conservation Cooperative

TEXAS NEW MEXICO

OKLAHOMA

LOUISIANA

Area enlarg
Introduction 5 

Collaboration with Tribes and Other Groups

The U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus 

and offices have trust responsibilities that require ensuring 

that tribal resources are properly managed, protected, and 

conserved (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1995). The 

Department, as trustee for tribes, has a duty to protect 

tribal health and safety, fulfill all treaty and statutory 

obligations, and exercise good faith in all dealings with 

tribes (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1995). As part 

of U.S. Department of the Interior trust responsibilities, 

bureaus of the Department must engage in meaningful and 

open consultation with tribal governments, respecting the 

sovereign status of tribal governments, when effects on tribal 

trust resources, rights, health, and safety are identified (U.S. 

Department of the Interior, 1995).

In accordance with U.S. Department of the Interior 

tribal trust and responsibilities, CSCs work with tribes, 

LCCs, and other stakeholders in their respective regions to 

conduct research that will be useful and mutually beneficial 

for identifying, mitigating, and adapting to the effects of 

climate change. CSCs prioritize their delivery of fundamental 

science, data, and decision-support activities to meet the 

needs of the tribes, LCCs, and other interested stakeholders 

and to coordinate communication about these issues between 

these groups. This CSC-sponsored support includes working 

with tribes, LCCs, other agencies, and the public to provide 

climate-change-effect information about natural and cultural 

resources and to develop adaptive management and other 

decision-support tools for land and resource managers. The 

SC CSC provides climate-change information to six LCCs 

with footprints overlapping that of the SC CSC (fig. 2).

In addition to providing information to tribes, CSCs 

can directly benefit from collaboration with tribes. Some of 

the areas in which the SC CSC would greatly benefit from 

tribal expertise include (a) improving understanding of 

changes in phenology (relative timing of biological 

activities such as flowering and animal migration), 

(b) evaluating climate-related changes in the 

availability of first foods (The Confederated 

Tribes of Grand Ronde, 2011) and other plant 

and animal species of cultural significance, 

and (c) describing adaptation strategies 

to climate change. Government-togovernment relations with tribes are 

fundamental to the work of CSCs and 

LCCs. This is reflected in the way 

that CSCs and LCCs are structured 

and in the work and priorities 

established by those groups 

to understand and find ways 

to adapt to climate change. 

The strong associations of 

science priorities of the 

SC CSC and LCCs in 

the south central United 

States are shown in table 1. The SC CSC also employs a fulltime Sustainability Scientist/Tribal Liaison who facilitates 

relations with tribes and develops partnerships on climatescience projects. That liaison also works with tribal education 

programs to develop opportunities for tribal students in the 

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 

fields through workshops, training classes, and other forms of 

outreach. 

Inclusion of tribal members in regular discussions 

of priorities and future projects of these centers and 

cooperatives is needed to reach decisions on priorities 

and research funding that incorporate the needs of tribes 

and other residents of these areas. Tribal governments and 

members are ideally suited to play important roles in longterm monitoring and reporting of local evidence of climate 

change because of their long-term links to the land, strong 

stewardship ethic, and substantial interactions with the 

environment and natural resources (Nakashima and others, 

2012). In addition to having unique knowledge of local 

ecosystems, tribes have sovereign rights to preserve and 

utilize natural resources and have extensive experience in 

management of shared resources (Whyte, 2013b; Wildcat, 

2013). Working closely with tribes to monitor climate change 

can help maintain treaty rights and protect trust resources. 

Sharing of climate-change knowledge and data among tribes, 

the SC CSC, and other stakeholders will enable development 

of new tools that will strengthen mutual understanding of 

the effects of climate change and better inform resourcemanagement practices and climatechange mitigation and 

adaptation 

strategies.
6 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014

The principal roles of the SC CSC are to gather, 

synthesize, and disseminate data, tools, and models related 

to climate change. Climate science can be informed by a 

variety of data and models collected and conducted over 

different geographic and time scales. Phenology, the science 

of periodic biological phenomena such as dates of 

spring leaf emergence and flowering and insect and 

animal migrations, is a means of evaluating the 

effects of climate change on local ecosystems. 

Global- and regional-scale climate models 

can be used to predict future climatic 

changes. The hydrologic effects of 

climate change can be simulated by 

using groundwater-flow and particletracking models, groundwater/

surface-water interaction models, 

and surface-water models. 

Models can be used to simulate 

the effects of climate change 

on ecosystems, such as 

in-stream flow models, 

carbon- and nutrientcycling models, forest 

dynamics, and wildlifepopulation models. Such 

Table 1. Top 10 science priorities of the South Central Climate Science Center compared to Landscape Conservation Cooperative 

science priorities in the south central United States.

[Modified from Winton and others, 2013; X, indicated as a science priority; LCC, Landscape Conservation Cooperative]

Organization

Adaptation, mitigation, resiliency, 

and vulnerability assessments

Climate-change effects on 

ecosystems/healthy ecosystems

Hydrologic response to climate 

change/hydrologic models

Climate-change effects on human 

populations, socioeconomics, 

urbanization, cultural resources, 

and agricultural issues

Improved monitoring networks 

for resources affected by climate 

change and management actions

Improved management and

sharing of climate change and 

geospatial data

Imperiled and rare communities 

and invasive species

Coastal response to sea-level rise 

and changing geomorphology

Biological response to climate 

change and disturbance, 

conservation design, and delivery

Land-use and land-cover change

South Central Climate 

Science Center X X X X X X X X X X

Desert LCC X X X X X X X X X

Eastern Tallgrass Prairie 

and Big Rivers LCC X X X X X X X X

Great Plains LCC X X X X X X X X X

Gulf Coast Prairie LCC X X X X X X X X X X

Gulf Coastal Plains and 

Ozarks LCC X X X X X X X X X

Southern Rockies LCC X X X X X X X X X
Introduction 7 

models can be used together to evaluate possible ranges of 

environmental responses to climate change and to develop 

and test adaptation strategies to climate change. The SC 

CSC provides funding for researchers affiliated with tribes, 

universities, and other agencies to conduct research relevant 

to a wide range of climate-change monitoring, modeling, and 

adaption strategies in this area, which includes parts of the 

Desert, Eastern Tallgrass Prairie and Big Rivers, Great Plains, 

Gulf Coast Prairie, Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks, and 

Southern Rockies LCCs (fig. 2). Tribes also can participate 

in SC CSC activities by offering staff time in the areas of 

environmental and cultural resources and participating on 

the SAC, which advises on the plans and strategies of the SC 

CSC, and the SIP, which provides guidance and assistance 

in setting priorities for annual projects and reviewing and 

ranking proposals for such funding.

To improve understanding of the effects of climate 

change in the south central United States, in 2012–13 the 

SC CSC provided funding to conduct studies and activities, 

many of which affect tribes, including

• delineation of marsh types along the Gulf of Mexico 

coast;

• evaluation of statistical downscaling applications for 

climate models; 

• investigation of variations in submerged aquatic 

vegetation to evaluate effects of climate change;

• synthesis of ecohydrology models as management 

tools for landscape conservation;

• conducting a series of intertribal climate-change and 

climate-variability workshops;

• investigation of the effects of habitat connectivity on 

sustainability of wildlife populations;

• investigation of effects of climate change on 

streamflows in the Red River Basin;

• expanding a framework for comparison of 

downscaled climate projections;

• predicting vulnerability of a forest to climate change;

• modeling effects of climate change on crucial wildlife 

habitat;

• evaluating climatic controls of water availability;

• measuring ecosystem stresses caused by climate 

change in part of the Arkansas River and Red River 

watersheds;

• evaluating ecological effects of climate change on 

coastal wetland ecosystems;

• conducting a workshop for graduate students, 

postdoctoral students, and early career researchers; 

and

• conducting high-resolution dynamic downscaling of 

regional climate projections.

In future years, the SC CSC will continue to provide 

funding for investigations of these and other aspects of 

climate-science monitoring, modeling, and adaptation.

The SC CSC also works with tribes to seek other 

sources of funding for tribes to investigate the effects of 

climate change and develop mitigation and adaptation 

strategies for climate change. In addition, the SC CSC 

leverages and seeks funds for activities related to classes and 

education opportunities related to climate change. Additional 

information about SC CSC collaborative activities with tribes 

is listed in appendix 2. 

Purpose and Scope

This circular describes issues of common interest 

between the 68 Native American tribes in the south central 

United States (app. 3), the programs and initiatives of the 

SC CSC, and means of sharing climate-science interests 

and concerns with tribes in the south central United States. 

Through two-way communication of interests, knowledge, 

and concern about climate change and related issues, the 

needs of tribes in the south central United States will be 

better served, and interpretation of the effects of climate 

change in this region will be strengthened.

This circular highlights the mission of the SC CSC, 

including descriptions of

• engagement of tribal leaders in climate-change issues,

• sponsored partnerships and projects,

• relations between CSCs and LCCs,

• educational activities and report products related to 

climate science,

• the potential roles of tribes and other stakeholders in 

measuring climate change and developing mitigation 

and adaptation strategies,

• climate-science capacity building of tribes in this 

region,

• climate-science resources for tribes to use in grant 

proposals, and

• potential funding sources for tribal environmental 

departments to investigate the effects of climate on 

natural resources in their jurisdictional areas.
8 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014

Climate Change and Tribes

The climate of Earth is changing, in part because of 

human activities (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 

Change, 2007). Such changes are affecting people and 

ecosystems around the world. With their strong links to the 

land and its ecosystems through indigenous knowledge, 

stewardship, and subsistence practices, Native American 

tribes are likely to be particularly affected by these changes 

(Wildcat, 2013). Native Americans may be especially 

affected by drought, water-resource reductions, sea-level 

rise, preservation of natural and cultural resources, changing 

locations and populations of culturally significant plants and 

first foods, and other effects of climate change on subsistence 

activities (Nakashima and others, 2012; National Climate 

Assessment Development Advisory Committee, 2013; 

Whyte, 2013a). Many tribes are seeking to adapt to the effects 

of climate change (Wildcat, 2013) but in some cases are 

being forced to change long-held customs and migrate from 

tribal lands. Many of those changes are related to water, such 

as increased droughts drying up springs, streams, and wells, 

and rising sea levels causing coastal flooding (Wildcat, 2013).

Tribal members are particularly numerous in the 

Oklahoma and New Mexico parts of the area of interest to 

the SC CSC, with 68 federally recognized tribes having lands 

in the south central United States (figs. 3 and 4, app. 3). In 

the 2010 U.S. census, Oklahoma and New Mexico ranked 

second (11.0 percent) and fourth (6.6 percent), respectively, 

for residents with primarily Native American ethnicity 

(Norris and others, 2012). Most of the tribes in Oklahoma 

were forcibly relocated to their current jurisdictional areas 

in the early to mid-1800s (Kidwell, 2010), whereas most 

of the tribes (pueblos) in New Mexico have resided near 

their current locations for thousands of years (Cordell, 

1994). Long-term residents of local areas, including tribal 

members, are likely to have considerable knowledge 

about the landscape and ecosystems of their lands that 

are vital for sustainably preserving ecosystems. Through 

treaties and historical precedence, tribes have sovereignty 

over their lands and rights and responsibilities regarding 

the protection of natural resources. The SC CSC wants 

to develop relations with tribal leaders, environmental 

staff, culture keepers, and members as a means of better 

understanding all effects of climate change in this region 

and developing adaptation strategies based on tribes’ 

experience with and knowledge of their areas. 

Leveraging Climate-Change 

Funds for Tribes and Studies 

Related to Tribal Lands

The SC CSC, through its contacts with other agencies 

that have interests in and funding to support climatescience research, is working with tribes and agencies 

to increase awareness of funding opportunities (app. 4) 

to support climate-science research that will provide 

monitoring, modeling, and adaptation strategies for tribes 

and tribal areas in the south central United States. The 

SC CSC also will

• avoid duplicating efforts between 

agencies and tribes,

• leverage funding to get the most work 

done to evaluate and adapt to climate 

change, and

• coordinate between tribes and 

other agencies to complement 

interests and make the best use 

of the strengths of tribes, the 

SC CSC, and other agencies 

in climate-science and 

related fields.
Leveraging Climate-Change Funds for Tribes and Studies Related to Tribal Lands 9 

EXPLANATION

Native American population,

 2010, in percent 

0.0–0.6

0.7–1.6

1.7–3.4

3.5–6.2

6.3–10.2

10.3–15.8

15.9–23.7

23.8–40.1

40.2–60.0

60.1–96.0

EXPLANATION

Native American population, 2010

0–312

313–924

925–1,871

1,872–3,279

3,280–5,376

5,377–8,669

8,670–13,524

13,525–23,710

23,711–36,714

36,715–78,329

0 250 500 750 1,000 MILES

0 250 500 750 1,000 KILOMETERS

Albers Equal-Area Conic projection

Population data from U.S.

 Census Bureau, 2013b

A

B

Figure 3. Native American population density in the continental United States by county in 2010. A, By population. B, By 

population percent.
110 ̊ 105 ̊ 100 ̊ 95 ̊ 

35 ̊ 30 ̊

0 100

0 100 200 300

Base from U.S. Census Bureau, 2013aNorth America Lambert Conformal Conic projectionStandard parallels 25 ̊ 00’N and 35 ̊ 15’NCentral meridian 96 ̊ 00’ W

Figure 4. Tribal lands and jurisdictional areas in the primary states of interest of the South Central Climate Science Center in the south c

EXPL

South Central CTribal lands and 

400 MILES

400 KILOMETERS

200 300

Figure 4. Tribal lands and jurisdictional areas in the primary States of interest of the South Central Climate Science Center in the south central Un
Inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge Where Appropriate and Acceptable 11 

Assisting Development of Projects 

and Adaptation Strategies

The SC CSC is committed to working with tribes to find 

collaboration opportunities and funding sources for tribes to 

conduct studies and adaptation activities related to climate 

science, ecosystem change, and sustainable adaptation. This 

effort will combine Western scientific methods with indigenous 

knowledge and practices to maximize the effectiveness of 

measuring effects of climate change and develop holistic 

strategies to mitigate those effects. The SC CSC will seek input 

from the tribes on how best to involve them in these activities.

Inclusion of Indigenous 

Knowledge Where Appropriate and 

Acceptable

Tribal members and other long-term residents of particular 

areas have developed extensive knowledge bases that include 

deep understanding of local environments and adaptive 

processes passed down through generations (Whyte, 2013a). 

That knowledge, referred to as “indigenous knowledge” 

in this circular and referred to as “traditional ecological 

knowledge” in other publications, such as Whyte, (2013b), 

may be (a) orally passed through generations, (b) dynamic 

and adaptive, (c) holistic in having cultural and spiritual 

components, and (d) related to survival and subsistence in a 

sustainable manner. Indigenous knowledge encompasses the 

relation of living beings with each other and the surrounding 

environment (Whyte, 2013a). Indigenous knowledge is based 

on (a) observations of interrelations among humans, plant and 

animal species, and their surrounding environment, (b) 

management practices that ensure sustainable use of 

resources, (c) responsibilities to minimize ecosystem 

exploitation, and (d) cultural value systems 

(Nakashima and others, 2012; Whyte, 2013a, b). 

Indigenous knowledge can be an important 

source of information relevant to climatechange studies, such as changes in flora 

and fauna over time, changes in other 

environmental conditions, history of 

manmade structures, and hydrologic 

changes in time and place (Whyte, 

2013b). Indigenous knowledge 

has been used in naturalresources management as a 

means of establishing baseline 

environmental data against 

which changes can be 

compared over time and for 

sustainable management 

of ecosystems (Whyte, 

2013b). Indigenous 

knowledge also can be used to optimize measurement, 

simulation, and management of ecosystems stressed or 

threatened by climate and land-use changes. The SC CSC 

is committed to respectfully incorporating principles 

of indigenous knowledge to evaluate the effects of and 

adaptation strategies to climate change. 

The following sequence of discussions and decisions 

may be useful for incorporating indigenous knowledge to 

holistically describe and adapt to climate change in local 

areas:

• discuss vulnerability assessments and how they can 

be used in adaptation planning,

• determine what ecosystem components (species, 

locations, and water resources) are particularly 

important to local groups,

• determine if those important components are 

vulnerable to climate change,

• evaluate how climate change may affect those 

components (which may be species or cultural 

practices),

• evaluate what could be done to either mitigate or 

adapt to climate change, and

• discuss pros and cons of potential solutions.
12 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014

There are multiple tribal-engagement efforts related 

to climate change nationally. In addition to the CSCs, other 

Federal agencies are engaged with tribes to address climatechange issues. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 

(EPA) Tribal Science Council (TSC, http://www.epa.gov/osp/

tribes/tribes.htm) has identified the following national tribal 

science priorities: (a) climate change and (b) integration of 

indigenous knowledge in environmental science, policy, and 

decision making. In partnership with the EPA, the SC CSC 

participates in a Tribal Environmental Leaders Summit. In 

addition, national tribal organizations such as the National 

Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the National Tribal 

Environmental Council (NTEC), and the Indigenous Peoples 

Climate Change Working Group (http://www.haskell.edu/

climate/; formerly American Indian and Alaska Native Climate 

Change Working Group) hold periodic meetings, and the SC 

CSC can partner with those organizations on tribal issues 

related to climate change.

Future Education and 

Outreach Classes

An important component of SC CSC activities is to 

conduct classes regarding climate change and means by 

which climate change effects can be mitigated or adaptation 

strategies may be developed. SC CSC 

staff and partners have 

conducted and 

plan to 

conduct more outreach and classes with tribal environmental 

staffs and tribal educators and students to develop capacity in 

climate-science and adaptation strategies. 

Tribal Environmental Staffs

A major goal of the SC CSC, based on interest expressed 

by tribal staffs at several workshops (Riley, 2011; app. 5), is to 

build tribal capacity by enhancing climate-science awareness 

and knowledge of tools and models that can be used by tribal 

environmental staffs. Those goals are being met by conducting 

interactive climate-science classes and workshops and 

making educational outreach presentations and publications. 

In 2012 and 2013, the SC CSC conducted five intertribal 

climate-change and variability workshops to build expertise in 

understanding social and communication dimensions of climate 

change (Riley, 2011; app. 5). Additional classes are planned for 

the future regarding formulation of plans for disaster recovery, 

drought management, emergency operations, and related 

topics.

As part of its outreach work, the SC CSC will organize 

and participate in meetings, conferences, and workshops 

with south central tribal resource managers and scientists to 

jointly identify high-priority science needs and transfer science 

results, tools, and models. These meetings may be held jointly 

with interested LCCs, tribal conferences, and other groups to 

maximize efficient communication with tribal members.

Tribal Educators and Students

The SC CSC recognizes that engaging Native American 

students in climate-change issues is important for developing 

future generations of citizens, scientists, and resource managers 

informed on the general aspects of climate-change science. 

Such educational efforts can start at the primary school 

level and progress through postdoctoral students. 

The SC CSC has been conducting seminars for 

tribal primary school through college students 

and faculty to increase knowledge and skills 

in climate science and STEM skills. The 

SC CSC has funded internships for 

college students to provide practical 

experience in the climate-change field. 

In upcoming years, the SC CSC will 

continue to provide educational 

seminars to exchange knowledge 

regarding climate-change effects 

and adaptation strategies 

and about how tribes have 

historically been affected by 

climate change. Examples 

of such outreach activities 

include participating in 

youth camps, student 

conferences, internships, 

providing resources to 
Structured Decision Making 13 

educators, developing curricula, and conducting a request for 

proposals (RFP) for tribal colleges (of which there are seven in 

the SC CSC area) to work toward science accreditation (app. 

5). The SC CSC also plans to host educator workshops to 

determine needs and interest of tribal educators in the climate 

sciences.

A goal of the SC CSC, through our consortium members, 

is to enhance diversity at universities and provide STEM 

opportunities for tribal members. This goal can be met by 

working with Native American student groups and tribal 

college faculties to facilitate development of collaboration 

between consortium universities, align research needs of 

these universities, and identify appropriate Native American 

students and environmental professionals for climate-science 

work. Support of students through graduate fellowship 

programs also would be a means of engaging Native American 

students in advanced climate-change research activities.

The SC CSC is assisting with development of proposals 

for universities and tribes and with identification of potential 

collaborators and cooperating agencies. To further educational 

engagement with tribal members, tribal technical organizations 

such as the American Indian Science and Engineering Society 

(http://www.aises.org) and the Society for Advancement of 

Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (https://

sacnas.org) will be invited to meet with the SC CSC and its 

consortium partners to develop opportunities for climatescience student internships and postdoctoral appointments.

Structured Decision Making

In working with tribes and other agencies on climatescience decision making, the SC CSC will conduct 

Structured Decision Making (SDM) sessions to evaluate 

climate-change issues and options. SDM (Gregory and 

others, 2012) is an organized approach for identifying 

and evaluating creative options and decision-making 

choices in complex situations (fig. 5). SDM gives insight 

to decision makers about how their objectives may be met 

by possible alternative courses of action. SDM concepts 

include making decisions that are based on clear and 

fundamental objectives, addressing uncertainty, addressing 

legal mandates and public preferences in decision making, 

and integrating science and policy. SDM is useful for 

reaching win-win solutions amongst disparate groups, 

helps to clarify tradeoffs between alternative actions, and 

provides a means of sharing options about alternative 

actions. SDM is useful for decisions that require integration 

of technical analysis with value-based decision making. 

The SDM process can assist tribes in balancing diverse 

Problem Mandates—laws,

policies, preferences

Objectives

Alternatives

Alternatives

Consequences Data

Decide and take actions

Tradeoffs and optimization

Values, preference scales,

weighting,and risk

Figure 5. The Structured Decision Making process.
14 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014

aspects such as culture, spiritual beliefs, evaluation of natural 

resources, adaptation to climate change, and competition with 

others who may seek to use natural resources. The SC CSC 

and selected tribal staff members (leaders, environmental and 

planning staffs) will attend an SDM “train the trainers” class 

to facilitate use of this technique for climate-science issues. 

Guidance on Climate-Change 

Grants and Resources Available 

from the U.S. Geological Survey 

and Other Agencies

The SC CSC has been providing resources and training 

relevant to climate-change issues to tribes in the south central 

United States (apps. 5 and 6). Examples of such resources 

include providing information about potential grants for 

climate-change studies from the U.S. Geological Survey and 

other agencies and adaptation strategies by tribes, links on the 

SC CSC Web site, data, fact sheets and other documents, and 

training classes (apps. 4 and 6–8). As listed in appendixes 4 

and 7, the SC CSC is a source of information about climate 

change and grants from numerous agencies. Through the 

SC CSC Web page, email announcements, workshops, 

and training classes, the SC CSC has been an information 

resource to tribes regarding important documents and journal 

papers related to climate change and sources of funding 

and information about ongoing projects related to climate 

change in the south central United States and will encourage 

collaboration with tribes in studies funded by the SC CSC.

Summary

The South Central Climate Science Center was 

established to increase understanding of climate change and 

to coordinate an effective response to climate-change effects 

on tribes and natural and cultural resources. Climate Science 

Centers provide coordination and funding to evaluate the 

vulnerability of natural and cultural resources to climate 

change, predict changes in natural and cultural resources in 

response to climate change, and develop models that predict 

responses to climate change. Staff and consortium partners of 

Climate Science Centers work closely with natural-resource 

management agencies, university researchers, and others 

such as tribes and private landowners on climate-change 

issues. The relatively large number of Native Americans in 

the south central United States and their special knowledge of 

changing ecosystems and adaptation to changes make working 

with tribes and tribal members on climate-change issues 

particularly important in this part of the Nation. This circular 

describes priorities of the South Central Climate Science 

Center, provides information about resources available from 

Climate Science Centers and partner agencies to characterize 

and mitigate effects of climate change, and describes how 

this Climate Science Center, tribes and tribal members, and 

others may collaborate to minimize potential harmful effects 

of climate change on human society and our surrounding 

ecosystems.

References

Cordell, L.S., 1994, Ancient pueblo peoples: Washington, 

D.C., Smithsonian Books, 176 p.

Esri, 2009, World shaded relief: Esri, accessed June 1, 2011, 

at http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/data-appliance/6.0/

index.html#//01tp0000003s000000.

Gregory, Robin, Failing, Lee, Harstone, Michael, Long, 

Graham, McDaniels, Tim, and Ohlson, Dan, 2012, 

Structured Decision Making—A practical guide to 

environmental management choices: Chichester, West 

Sussex, England, United Kingdom, John Wiley and Sons, 

Ltd., 299 p.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007, IPCC 

Fourth Assessment Report—Climate change 2007 (AR4): 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, accessed 

September 11, 2013, at http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_

and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#.

UjCRAZJQF30.

Kidwell, C.S., 2010, The effects of removal on American 

Indian tribes: National Humanities Center, University of 

North Carolina at Chapel Hill, accessed May 5, 2014, 

at http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/nattrans/

ntecoindian/essays/indianremoval.htm.

Nakashima, D.J., Galloway McLean, K., Thulstrup, H.D., 

Ramos Castillo, A., and Rubis, J.T., 2012, Weathering 

uncertainty—Traditional knowledge for climate change 

assessment and adaptation: Paris, France, United Nations 

Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, and 

Darwin, Australia, United Nations University, 120 p.
References 15 

National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory 

Committee, 2013, Federal advisory committee draft climate 

assessment: National Climate Assessment and Development 

Advisory Committee, 1,193 p., accessed September 16, 

2013, at http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/.

Norris, Tina, Vines, P.L., and Hoeffel, E.M., 2012, The 

American Indian and Alaska Native population—2010: 

Bureau of the Census, 2010 Census Brief C2010BR–10, 21 

p., accessed September 16, 2013, at http://www.census.gov/

prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-10.pdf.

Riley, Rachel, 2011, Oklahoma inter-tribal meeting on climate 

variability and change: South Central Climate Science 

Center, 22 p.

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, 2011, Tribal 

government day honors native first foods: The Confederated 

Tribes of Grand Ronde, accessed May 5, 2014, at http://

www.grandronde.org/news/articles/tribal-governmentday-honors-native-first-foods/?sms_ss=blogger&at_

xt=4ddecf51b3f4df73%2C0.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2013a, Geography, TIGER/Line ® 

shapefiles and TIGER/Line® files: U.S. Census Bureau, 

accessed April 17, 2014, at http://www.census.gov/geo/

maps-data/data/tiger-line.html.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2013b, USA counties data file 

downloads: U.S. Census Bureau, accessed April 17, 2014, at 

http://www.census.gov/support/USACdataDownloads.html.

U.S. Department of the Interior, 1995, Department of the 

Interior departmental manual, intergovernmental relations 

part 512—American Indian and Alaska Native programs 

chapter 2—Departmental responsibilities for Indian Trust 

resources, originating office: Office of American Indian 

Trust 512 DM 2, Department of the Interior, December 

1, 1995, accessed February 27, 2014, at http://

www.usbr.gov/native/policy/DM_FInal_12-1-

95_512%20DM%202.pdf.

U.S. Department of the Interior, 2009, 

Secretarial Order No. 3289, Addressing 

the impacts of climate change on 

America’s water, land, and other 

natural and cultural resources, 

U.S.C. § 1 (Sept. 14, 2009): 

Accessed August 28, 2013, 

at http://www.fws.gov/

home/climatechange/pdf/

SecOrder3289.pdf.

U.S. Department of the Interior, 2012, Map showing 

Climate Science Center areas: Accessed February 

5, 2014, at http://www.doi.gov/csc/images/CSC_

consortia_and_regions_2012.png.

Whyte, K.P., 2013a, Justice forward—Tribes, climate 

adaptation and responsibility: Climatic Change, v. 120, 

p. 517–530.

Whyte, K.P., 2013b, On the role of traditional ecological 

knowledge as a collaborative concept—A philosophical 

study: Ecological Processes, v. 2, no. 7, 12 p., accessed 

August 28, 2013, at http://www.cfans.umn.edu/

diversity/web%20text/WildRice/Kyle_Whyte_On_the_

Role_of_TEK.pdf.

Wildcat, D.R., 2013, Introduction—Climate change and 

indigenous peoples of the USA: Climatic Change, v. 

120, p. 509–515.

Winton, K.T., Dalton, M.S., and Shipp, A.A., comps., 

2013, U.S. Department of the Interior South Central 

Climate Science Center Strategic Science Plan, 

2013–18: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

2013–1143, 24 p.
16 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
Appendixes 17 

Appendixes
18 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
Appendixes 19 

Appendix 1. Members of the South Central Climate Science Center (SC CSC) Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

[LCC, Landscape Conservation Cooperative; Okla., Oklahoma; N. Mex., New Mexico; La., Louisiana; Tex., Texas; Ariz., Arizona; Ind., Indiana;

Tenn., Tennessee; Colo., Colorado; Mo., Missouri]

Name Organization Location

Tribal representatives

Patrick Gwin Cherokee Nation Tahlequah, Okla.

Rupert F. Nowlin Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes El Reno, Okla.

Federal representatives

Benjamin Tuggle U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2 Albuquerque, N. Mex.

Bill Bartush Gulf Coast Prairie LCC Coordinator Lafayette, La.

Michael Sterling U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Southwestern Division Dallas, Tex.

Dana Roth U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2 Albuquerque, N. Mex.

David Brown National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fort Worth, Tex.

Genevieve Johnson Desert LCC Coordinator Glendale, Ariz.

Glen Salmon Eastern Tallgrass Prairie and Big Rivers LCC Bloomington, Ind.

Greg Wathen Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks LCC Nashville, Tenn.

Tammy Whittington and Pam Benjamin National Park Service Lakewood, Colo.

Kevin Johnson Southern Rockies LCC Denver, Colo.

Levi Brekke U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Great Plains Region Denver, Colo.

Jean Steiner Agricultural Research Service, Grazinglands

Research Laboratory El Reno, Okla.

Allison Shipp U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Region Columbia, Mo.

State representatives

Ryan Ward New Mexico Department of Agriculture Las Cruces, N. Mex.

J.D. Strong Oklahoma Water Resources Board Oklahoma City, Okla.

Cindy Loeffler Texas Parks and Wildlife Austin, Tex.

George Geissler Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Oklahoma City, Okla.
20 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
Appendixes 21 

Appendix 2. Examples of South Central Climate Science Center (SC CSC) collaborative activities with tribes, 2012–14.

I. Education

A. Tribal Environmental Staffs

Goal: Build tribal capacity by enhancing climate-science awareness and knowledge of tools that 

can be used by tribal environmental staffs

1. Build relationships with tribal environmental staffs

a Participate in tribal science meetings

b Host open houses at the SC CSC for tribal staff

c Visit tribal environmental departments

2. Organize workshops to train tribal staff

a Training about Structured Decision Making

b Training about applying for Federal grants

c Training about communicating climate-science information

3. Jointly identify the high-priority science needs of tribes

4. Promote and coordinate interactions between SC CSC partner organizations and tribes

a Provide information to tribes about funding opportunities offered by partner 

organizations

b Serve as a conduit for climate information from partner organizations to tribes

c Promote inclusion of tribes in climate-science research projects conducted

by partner organizations

B. Students

Goal: Serve as a conduit to enhance diversity at universities and provide science, technology, 

engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities for tribes through SC CSC consortium 

members

1. Participate in youth camps and tribal youth outreach events

2. Participate in tribal student conferences

3. Conduct seminars for tribal primary school through college students 

4. Fund internships for college students

5. Hold meetings with tribal technical organizations and consortium members to develop 

internships and postdoctoral appointments for climate-science students
22 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014

C. Educators

Goal: Assist tribal educators in providing climate-science information to their students

1. Provide climate-science information and resources to educators

2. Partner with tribal educators in the development of curriculum

3. Conduct a request for proposals for tribal colleges

4. Conduct educator workshops

D. Tribal Leaders

Goal: Dialogue with leaders to understand their tribes’ needs regarding climate science

1. Give presentations and staff booths at tribal leader meetings to make them aware of the SC 

CSC

2. Hold annual tribal leader forums to update them and their staffs about SC CSC activities, 

get input about tribal needs related to climate change, and share information about funding 

opportunities

E. Tribal Members

Goal: Assist tribal educators, environmental staffs, and leaders in their efforts to provide climatescience information to their members

1. Develop curriculum and provide training for its use for tribal environmental staffs

and leaders

2. Participate in tribal environmental outreach programs

AI. Project Development

Goal: Work with tribes to find collaboration opportunities and funding sources for tribes to conduct 

studies and adaptation activities related to climate science, ecosystem change, and sustainable 

adaptation

A. Provide guidance on climate-change grants and resources available from the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) and other agencies

1. Develop and promote social media outlets for tribal environmental staffs to use to 

communicate information about grants and other opportunities

2. Develop relationships with environmental staffs to understand their needs

B. Leverage climate-change funds for tribes and studies related to tribal lands

1. Promote the inclusion of tribes as potential partners in SC CSC-funded projects as both 

collaborators and researchers

2. Maximize, leverage, and coordinate climate-science funding for monitoring, modeling,

and adaptation for tribes and tribal lands

C. Indigenous Knowledge

2.
Appendixes 23 

1. Promote the integration of western scientific methods with indigenous knowledge and 

practices in SC CSC-funded projects to maximize the effectiveness of measuring the effects 

of climate change and develop holistic adaptation strategies to mitigate those effects

2. Seek tribal knowledge for

a improving understanding of changes in phenology (timing of biological activities 

such as flowering and animal migration)

b evaluating climate-related changes in the availability of first foods and other plant 

and animal species of cultural significance

c describing adaptation strategies to climate change
Appendix 3. Locations of federally recognized Native American tribes and nations in the principal States of the area of interest of the South Central (SC CSC). 90° 95° 100° 105° 35°

30°

0 100 200 300 MILES

0 100 200 300 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Information Resourcesand Technology Management, Denver, Colo. 2010North American Lambert Conformal Conic projectionStandard parallels 25 ̊05' N and 35 ̊30' NCentral meridian 96 ̊00' WNorth American Datum of 1983

TEXAS NEW MEXICO OKLAHOMA

LOUISIANA

Area enlarg

Area enlarged

Area enlarged

1

6

6

88

65

48

47

46

49 50

67

23 9

10 11

12

26

27 28

25 24

61

60

63 59

58

51 52

53

54 55 56

62

2

3 7

4

66

64

57

30 29

13

31

33 32

40

41

22

14 18

21

20 17 19

16

15

42

44

8

45

43

34

3937

38

36 35
EXPLANATION

List of tribes:Louisiana:1. Jena Band of Choctaw Indians2. Tunica-Biloxi Indians3. Coushata Tribe4. Chitimacha TribeTexas: 5. Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo6. Kickapoo Traditional Tribe7. Alabama-Coushata TribeOklahoma:8. Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma9. Chickasaw Nation10. Citizen Potawatomi Nation11. Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma12. Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma13. The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma14. Shawnee Tribe15. Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma16. Wyandote Nation17. Eastern Shawnee Tribe18. Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma19. Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma20. Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma

21. Quapaw Tribe22. Miami Tribe of Oklahoma23. Apache Tribe of Oklahoma24. Comanche Nation25. Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma26. Fort Sill Apache Tribe27. Caddo Nation of Oklahoma28. Delaware Nation29. Wichita and Affiliated Tribes30. Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma31. Thlopthlocco Tribal Town32. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation33. Sac & Fox Nation of Oklahoma34. Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma35. Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma36. Otoe-Missouria Nation37. Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma38. Kaw Nation39. Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma40. The Osage Nation41. Cherokee Nation42. Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town43. Delaware Tribe of Indians44. Kilagee Tribal Town45. United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians

New Mexico:46. Ute Mountain Tribe47. Navajo Nation48. Zuni Tribe49. Jicarilla Apache Tribe50. Pueblo of Taos51. Pueblo of Picuris52. Pueblo of San Juan53. Pueblo of Santa Clara54. Pueblo of San Ildefonso55. Pueblo of Pojoaque56. Pueblo of Nambe57. Pueblo of Tesuque58. Pueblo of Jemez59. Pueblo of Zia60. Pueblo of Santa Ana61. Pueblo of Sandia62. Pueblo of San Felipe63. Pueblo of Santo Domingo64. Pueblo of Cochiti65. Pueblo of Acoma66. Pueblo of Laguna67. Pueblo of Isleta68. Mescalero Apache Tribe
26 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
Appendix 4. Selected Federal grant sources for study of or adaptation to climate change.[DOI, Department of the Interior; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; USFWS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; USBR, Bureau of Reclamation; BIA, Bureau of Indian Affairs; USFNatural Resources Conservation Service; HUD, Department of Housing and Urban Development; EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; DOE, Department of Energy; NSpace Administration]

Department or 

agency Brief description of program Web site

DOI, USGS Climate Science Centers and the USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science 

Center—fund research related to climate change and adaptation strategies

www.doi.gov/csc/index.cfmhttps://nccwsc.usgs.gov/

USFWS, USBR Landscape Conservation Cooperatives—fund research to investigate ecosystem

trends across the United States

http://www.doi.gov/lcc/index.cfmhttp://gulfcoastprairielcc.org/http://www.greatplainslcc.org/http://www.usbr.gov/dlcc/http://southernrockieslcc.org/http://gcpolcc.orghttp://www.tallgrassprairielcc.org/

USFWS Tribal Wildlife Grant Program—provides support for habitat conservation, fish

and wildlife research, natural history studies, population monitoring

http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/granhttp://www.fws.gov/nativeamerican/grants

USBR WaterSMART—improving water conservation and sustainability http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSmart/grants.htmBIA Climate Change Grant Program http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/RegionalO

NaturalResources/index.htm

USFS National Forest Foundation’s Matching Awards Program—provides matching funds

for monitoring projects benefiting National Forests and Grasslands

http://www.nationalforests.org/conserve/gr

map

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant—financial assistance, environmental improvement http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/m

financial/cig/ 

HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Grant Program http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/

administration/grants/nofa10/scrpg

EPA Climate and Integrated Assessment Modeling studies,

Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes

http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2013/2013_st

DOE Tribal Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Deployment Assistance http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/tribal.htmNASA Global Climate Change Education http://cleanet.org/cln/ccep/nasa_global_cli.

http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/abo
Appendix 5. List of South Central Climate Science Center (SC CSC) meetings, classes, and workshops conducted 2011–13.[Okla., Oklahoma; NRCS, Natural Resources Conservation Service; N. Mex., New Mexico; Tex., Texas; LCC, Landscape Conservation Cooperative; EPA, U.S. Environmental La., Louisiana; GPS, Global Positioning System; N.Y., New York]

Class/meeting name Date Location Purpose

Oklahoma Inter-Tribal Meeting on Climate 

Variability and Change

12/12/2011 Norman, Okla. Enhance and foster dialogue between tribes and climate 

science and change, develop recommendations for 20Assessment document.

NRCS National American Indian/Alaska Native 

Special Emphasis Program

07/31/2012 Norman, Okla. Inform tribal representatives about this NRCS program a

the SC CSC.

Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working 

Group (formerly American Indian Alaska Native Climate Change Working Group)

08/13/2012 Norman, Okla. SC CSC staff and tribal representative met with Dan Wil

climate-science issues and strategies of northwestern t

Oklahoma Tribal Conservation Advisory Council 08/23/2012 Shawnee, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and prograTribal Environmental Coalition of Oklahoma 09/18/2012 Stroud, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and prograUniversity of Oklahoma American Indian

Science and Engineering Society Chapter

09/25/2012 Norman, Okla. Met to discuss the SC CSC mission and programs and po

Roll-Out Meeting 10/24/2012 Las Cruces, N. Mex. Meeting to describe the SC CSC mission and program to SC CSC Science Workshop 11/29/2012 Fort Worth, Tex. Meeting to describe the SC CSC mission and program to SC CSC and LCC Tribal Involvement Meeting 11/30/2012 Fort Worth, Tex. Meeting to describe missions and programs of the SC CS

Gulf Coastal Plains, and Ozarks LCCs.

EPA, Region VI, 16th Annual Tribal 

Environmental Summit

12/12–14/2012 Dallas, Tex. Made presentation and had booth related to SC CSC mis

Gulf Coast Prairie LCC

Steering Committee Meeting

01/08–10/2013 Lafayette, La. Advised LCC regarding program directions and prioritie

Tribal Environmental Coalition of Oklahoma 01/15/2013 Stroud, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and prograNorman Public Schools Native American Science 

Club

01/22/2013 Norman, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and progra

University of Oklahoma American Indian

Science and Engineering Society Chapter

01/29/2013 Norman, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and progra

Riverside Indian School 02/11/2013 Anadarko, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and prograChickasaw Nation Environmental Health and 

Safety Expo 2013

02/19/2013 Norman, Okla. Taught a class about climate change and had an exhibit b

mission and programs.

American Indian Math and Science Society 03/14/2013 Norman, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and prograAmerican Indian Alaskan Native Climate Change 

Working Group

03/28–29/2013 Norman, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and progra

EPA Reg. VI Regional Tribal Operations 

Committee

04/03/2013 Tulsa, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and progra
Class/meeting name Date Location Purpose

American Indian Math & Science Society Summer 

Youth Camps

04/19/2013, 

05/22/2013

Norman, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and progra

Norman Public Schools Native American Science 

Club GPS Scavenger Hunts

04/27/2013, 

05/01/2013, 05/04/2013

Norman, Okla. Provided class materials and taught class.

Bureau of Indian Affairs 05/02/2013 Norman, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and prograChoctaw Nation of Oklahoma Environmental Staff 05/03/2013 Durant, Okla. Described the SC CSC mission and programs and the EcFive Civilized Tribes Inter-Tribal Council, 

Environmental Protection Committee

05/07/2013 Catoosa, Okla. Outreach to describe and discuss the mission and progra

American Indian Math and Science Society 

Summer Institute on Climate Change and Sustainability

05/31/2013 Norman, Okla. Provided class materials describing the SC CSC mission 

climate change and adaptation to climate change.

Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc.,

Tribal Youth Environmental Summer Camp

06/01/2013 Norman, Okla. Provided class materials describing climate change and a

change.

Inter-Tribal Workshop on Climate Variability

and Change

06/04/2013 Stillwater, Okla. SC CSC-sponsored workshop about climate change.

American Indian Math & Science Society Climate 

Change and Sustainability Summer Institute

06/10–14/2013 Norman, Okla. Presented information about climate change and adaptati

Inter-Tribal Workshop on Climate Variability

and Change

06/11/2013 Fort Cobb, Okla. SC CSC-sponsored workshop about climate change.

EPA National Tribal Science Council Meeting 06/18–20/2013 Syracuse, N.Y. Gave presentation about the SC CSC mission and prograEight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Inc.,

Tribal Summer Camp

06/24/2013 Santa Fe, N. Mex. Gave presentation about climate change and adaptation t

Inter-Tribal Workshop on Climate Variability

and Change

06/25/2013 Albuquerque, N. 

Mex.

SC CSC-sponsored workshop about climate change.

Inter-Tribal Workshop on Climate Variability

and Change

07/09/2013 Wyandotte, Okla. SC CSC-sponsored workshop about climate change.

Inter-Tribal Workshop on Climate Variability

and Change

07/17/2013 Sulphur, Okla. SC CSC-sponsored workshop about climate change.

Chickasaw Nation Water Sustainability Proposal 

Team field trip

08/02/2013 Ada and

Sulphur, Okla.

Field trip to examine water-resource and climate-related 

Oklahoma.

Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival 08/30–09/01/2013 Tuskahoma, Okla. Booth with education information at public festival.USGS Tribal Water Resources Class 08/13–14/2013 Shawnee, Okla. Attended class about water planning, drought, and clima

presentations about the mission and programs of the Schange, and mitigation and adaptation to climate chan
30 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
Appendixes 31 

Appendix 6. South Central Climate Science Center (SC CSC) activities, priorities, and progress toward goals.

Activities, priorities, and progress Brief description of program

Provide funding for climate-change research in the south 

central area

The SC CSC provided funding in fiscal year 2012 for five climatechange research projects in the south central area. The SC CSC 

anticipates providing funding for five new climate-change research 

projects in each fiscal year.

Conduct workshops to build SC CSC expertise in 

understanding social and communication dimensions of 

climate change and conduct inter-tribal workshops about 

climate variability and change

The SC CSC conducted a workshop in both 2012 and 2013 to 

develop better understanding of the multidimensional nature of the 

effects of climate change in the south central area.

Act as a clearinghouse for climate-change information in the 

south central area on the basis of the U.S. Geological Survey 

ScienceBase Web site and other resources

The SC CSC is building resources, including this document, to 

provide links to climate-change information.

Leverage climate-change funds for tribes and studies related

to tribal jurisdictional areas

Climate science research capacity of tribal governmental staff 

members is a high priority for the SC CSC. The SC CSC will 

conduct additional meetings and training classes to build interest 

in and knowledge of potential climate-change research topics.

Assist in development of projects, adaptation strategies, and 

utilization of indigenous knowledge

The SC CSC plans to conduct additional meetings and training 

classes with tribal leaders and environmental staff members to 

discuss how indigenous knowledge can be tested and documented 

as mitigation and adaptation strategies for changing climate.
32 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
Appendixes 33 

Appendix 7. Selected Federal programs related to adaptation to climate change.

[DOI, Department of the Interior; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; NPN, National Phenology Network; USFWS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; NPS, 

National Park Service; EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; NOAA, National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration; USFS, U.S. Forest Service; DOT, U.S. Department of Transportation; NIEHS, National Institute for Environmental 

Health Sciences; NIDIS, National Interagency Drought Information System]

Department, agency,

or program Brief description of program Web site

DOI, USGS Climate Science Centers fund and coordinate research

related to climate change and adaptation strategies

www.doi.gov/csc/index.cfm

NPN Multiagency and citizen effort to catalog the effects of

climate change on ecosystems

https://www.usanpn.org/

USFWS Developed strategic plan for adapting and mitigating the 

effects of accelerating climate change

http://www.fws.gov/home/climatechange/pdf/

CCStrategicPlan.pdf

USGS Climate and Land-Use Change and Development Program—

supports fundamental multidisciplinary research needed to 

address complex issues associated with climate and land 

use change

http://www.usgs.gov/climate_landuse/clu_rd/

NPS Developed climate-change response strategy document http://www.nature.nps.gov/climatechange/

docs/NPS_CCRS.pdf

EPA Policies and programs including Draft Climate Change 

Adaptation Plan, Policy on Climate Change Adaptation, 

Climate Ready Water Utilities, National Water Program 

Climate Change Strategy, Office of Research and 

Development Global Change Impacts and Adaptation, 

Tribal Science Council

http://epa.gov/climatechange/pdfs/EPAclimate-change-adaptation-plan-final-forpublic-comment-2-7-13.pdf, http://epa.

gov/climatechange/Downloads/impactsadaptation/adaptation-statement.pdf

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/

watersecurity/climate/

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/

climatechange/2012-National-WaterProgram-Strategy.cfm

http://www.epa.gov/ncea/global/

http://www.epa.gov/osp/tribes/tribes.htm

NASA Provides data and imagery related to climate change http://climate.nasa.gov/

NOAA Provides current and projected climate information http://www.climate.gov/#climateWatch

Interagency Climate 

Change Adaptation 

Task Force

A task force of more than 20 Federal agencies developing 

reports related to climate-change adaptation strategies

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/

eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptation

U.S. Global Change 

Research Program

Coordinates and integrates Federal research on changes in 

the global environment and societal implications of those 

changes

http://www.globalchange.gov/

USFS Provides information and tools related to climate change, 

forestry, and adaptation

http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/

DOT Has clearinghouse related to effects of transportation on 

climate change and of climate change on transportation

http://climate.dot.gov/

NIEHS Provides information about potential health effects of climate 

change

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/

geh/climatechange/

NIDIS A multiagency group managing the U.S. Drought Portal, 

which prepares information related to drought prediction 

and adaptation

http://www.drought.gov/drought/
34 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
Appendixes 35 

Appendix 8. Landscape Conservation Cooperative contacts in the south central United States.

Landscape Conservation

Cooperative Web site

Landscape Conservation 

Cooperative Coordinator 

(in 2014)

Coordinator email address

Desert http://www.usbr.gov/dlcc/ Genevieve Johnson gjohnson@usbr.gov

Eastern Tallgrass Prairie and Big Rivers http://www.tallgrassprairielcc.org/ Glen Salmon Glen_Salmon@fws.gov

Great Plains http://www.greatplainslcc.org/ Nicole Athearn Nicole_athearn@fws.gov

Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks http://gcpolcc.org/ Greg Wathen Greg.wathen@tn.gov

Gulf Coast Prairie http://gulfcoastprairielcc.org/ Bill Bartush Bill_bartush@fws.gov

Southern Rockies http://southernrockieslcc.org/ Kevin Johnson Kevin_m_johnson@fws.gov

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36 Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014
Andrews and others—Tribal Engagement Strategy of the South Central Climate Science Center, 2014—Circular 1396

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Printed on recycled paper 9 7 8141

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ISSN 2330-5703 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/cir1396