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WORKING GROUP
About the Native Climate Working Group (NCWG)
Native Climate Working Group (NCWG) is a forum for Tribal Extension leaders, agriculture producers, and youth educators to come together with federal agency partners to learn about seasonal and long-term climate trends and to discuss how climate extremes are impacting Tribal agriculture, economies, and well-being. Climate impacts are linked to timely information about available resources to help farmers, ranchers, and resource managers enhance the resilience of Tribal agriculture and to build capacity for climate education in Tribal Extension and education programs. Practical and timely information is exchanged across a board range of topics including drought adaptation, water sustainability, food sovereignty, climate change curriculum and outreach initiatives, and economic outlooks. The NCWG aims to raise climate awareness, increase sharing of traditional and western knowledge, and reduce barriers for Tribes to access resources.
Join Us!
The NCWG meets on Zoom for 60 min the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 10a PT/ 11a MT/ 12p CT/ 1p ET.
To join, please contact Vicki Hebb, [email protected]
Schedule
The NCWG meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Join us from 10-11 AM PT on Zoom to discuss exciting topics and interface with other climate and agriculture professionals.
- Dec 17, 2024 – No Meeting. All are encouraged to attend the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) Annual Conference in Las Vegas!
- Jan 21, 2025 – Topic TBD
- Feb 18, 2025 – Topic TBD
Past Presentations & Resources
Nov 19, 2024 | Partner Update: Southwest Climate Hub - Helena Deswood & Emile Elias
Tribal Coordinator Helena Deswood and Director Dr. Emile Elias presented recent accomplishments and a suite of useful climate resources from the Southwest Climate Hub.
View the meeting recording here: https://youtu.be/6vwe4eemXj4?si=0zb1N0vM2w63ffQX
Links to resources shared during presentation:
- Southwest Climate Hub – https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest
- Southwest Drought Learning Network – https://dln.swclimatehub.info/
- Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) – https://www.cocorahs.org/
- My RAINge Log – https://myraingelog.arizona.edu/
- Southwest Climate Hub Bulletin email newsletter signup – https://usda.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cc84aebdbf717b563d9af2ab0&id=ec7f833a04
- Come Rain or Shine Podcast – https://rainorshine.buzzsprout.com/
- National Climate Assessment – https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/
- IAIA Indigenous Beekeeping course – https://webassets.aihec.org/Policy-Advocacy/118th2ndCongress/IAIA_impact_sheet_1.12.2024%20(1).pdf
- Student Regenerative Ag program – https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/southwest/topic/supporting-career-pathways-indigenous-agriculture
- SW Climate Hub Decision Support tools – https://swclimatehub.info/decision-support/tools/
- AgRisk Viewer – https://agrisk.jornada.nmsu.edu/rma/
- Water Applications Techniques Atlas (WATA) – https://webapps.jornada.nmsu.edu/wata/
- Climate Quick Reference Guides – https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/tools/climate-quick-reference-guides
- Forest Resource Index for Decisions in Adaptation (FRIDA) – https://webapps.jornada.nmsu.edu/frida/
- After Fire: Toolkit for the Southwest – https://postfiresw.info/
- Dust Mitigation Handbook – https://dust.swclimatehub.info/
- IAIA Land Grant Program – https://iaia.edu/outreach/land-grant/
Oct 15, 2024 | Data and CompUter Science - Michael Charles, Cornell University
Dr. Michael Charles is Diné, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, and an assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University. He presented “Using Data and Computer Sciences to Protect and Empower Indigenous Peoples and Livelihoods.”
View the meeting recording here: ZOOM RECORDING
Sept 17, 2024 | Western Drought Update - Kyle Bocinsky, Montana Climate Office
Kyle Bocinsky, Director of Climate Extension for the Montana Climate Office, presented “Living in a Changing World,” an update on the status of drought in the Western US and outlook for coming months.
Presentation slides: Bocinsky_Western_Drought_Update_20240917
View the meeting recording here: ZOOM RECORDING ; (passcode: MD#L=q8Z)
May 21, 2024 | Bees and Beekeeping - Lindsay Chichester, University of Nevada Extension
Lindsay Chichester, UNR Assistant Professor/Extension Educator and Nevada 4-H Program Leader, presented “Bees: The backbone of food and agriculture.”
View the meeting recording here: ZOOM RECORDING
April 16, 2024 | Climate Hubs Overview - Lee Schmelzer, Montana State University
Lee Schmelzer, Ag Risk Outreach Specialist for Montana State University, presented an overview of the USDA Climate Hubs and their services.
View the meeting recording here: ZOOM RECORDING
Mar 19, 2024 | Agricultural Economic Outlook for 2024 - Shannon Neibergs, Extension Economist, WSU
Shannon Neibergs, Extension Economist, Director Western Center Risk Management Education School of Economic Sciences, WSU, presented on the market outlook and risk conditions as we begin the 2024 crop growing cycle.
View the meeting recording here: ZOOM RECORDING
Feb 20, 2024 | Western Drought Outlook - Kyle Bocinsky, Montana Climate Office
Kyle Bocinsky, Director of Climate Extension from the University of Montana, presented on current and projected climate conditions for winter and spring across the Western US.
View the meeting recording here: https://youtu.be/JZxyCjZPwtg
Jan 16, 2024 | HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR MICROPLASTICS EDUCATION. ILEAH KIRCHOFF, DRI.
Ileah Kirchoff, Educational Engagement Lead for DRI, shared K-12 educational materials and activities on the topic of microplastics. At the end of the meeting, Climate Reporter Gina McGuire read her new poem, Trust The Rain, which explores the impacts of microplastics in our bodies and the environment.
View the meeting recording here: http://tinyurl.com/43ymh4ex
Nov 21, 2023 | INTERTRIBAL BUFFALO COUNCIL, TROY HEINERT, Executive Director.
Today’s working group meeting featured an overview of the work of the Intertribal Buffalo Council. The group has 83 member tribes in 23 states, and works toward the vision of restoring buffalo back to tribal lands for cultural and spiritual connection.
View the meeting recording here: https://youtu.be/ol6O3oa5kGI
Oct 17, 2023 | Intertribal Agriculture Council, Keir Johnson, Chief Stakeholder Engagement Officer
A discussion on the growth and improved opportunities to producers from IAC’s new programs as well as the National Conference in Las Vegas in December 12-14, 2023.
View the meeting recording here: https://youtu.be/KT8ogdAr-kE
Sept 19, 2023 | Western Drought Update - Kyle Bocinsky, Montana Climate Office, Univ. Montana
Today’s working group meeting featured a Western Drought Update from Kyle Bocinsky, D
View the meeting recording here: Western Drought Update
June 20, 2023 | Summer Wildfire Outlook - Kyle Bocinsky, Christine Thompson, ShiNaasha Pete
Today’s working group meeting featured a Western Fire Update from Kyle Bocinsky [0:00 – 14:30]; A presentation on the San Carlos Apache Tribe Forest Resources Program from Christine Thompson, Prescribed Fire & Fuels Specialist [14:30 – 37:00]; and a presentation on Sowing History, Growing Culture, Planting Language: CSKT’s Whitebark Pine Biocultural Restoration from ShiNaasha Pete, Navajo and E Shawnee – Reforestation forester, Whitebark pine restoration manager [37:00 – 1:11:00].
Links to resources shared:
View the meeting recording here: Summer Wildfire Outlook
May 10, 2023 | The Akana Group – Jen Tomasik, Chuck Battles, Anthony Cole
The Akana Group (https://theakanagroup.com/) is creating alliances and providing Native people from the U.S. to Australia with the needed tools, training, scholarships, and other connections to do work with long-lasting impacts. Jen Tomasik, Chuck Battles, and Anthony Cole gave a presentation on the Akana Group, the equipment they can provide, and their commitment to serving Indigenous communities and creating positive impacts for the next seven generations.
View the meeting recording here: The Akana Group
April 18, 2023 | "Adaptation & Resilience to Climate" – Josh Moore, Colorado River Indian Tribe Irrigation Project
Listen to Josh Moore speak on the exciting possibilities of N-drip irrigation systems as applied by the Colorado River Indian Tribe Irrigation Project.
Joshua Moore serves as the Farm Manager for the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Farms located on both the Arizona & California banks of the Colorado River. CRIT Farms consists of 33,000 acres of fertile farmland irrigated with water from the Colorado River.
View the meeting recording here: Adaptation and Resilience to Climate
March 21, 2023 | Western Drought Update with Kyle Bocinsky
Kyle Bocinsky, PhD, RPA, presents on the outlook for drought in the US for spring 2023 and its projected impacts on agriculture, with a special focus on Native communities. The presentation includes a detailed discussion of the impacts of snowpack and snowmelt, with the latest data from the Montana Climate Office.
View the meeting recording here: Western Drought Update
February 21, 2023 | Interactive Climate Learning Tools Talk: Engaging Students in our Climate Futures
Terra Prime: A Visual Learning Tool: Dr. Manuel-Julian R. Montoya from the University of New Mexico & Anderson School of Management presented his Terra Prime visual learning tool and shared how these tools can help students meaningfully incorporate philosophical and climate approaches into their studies.
STEM Education and Outreach through Science, Art, and Technology: Thayne Yazzie of Western Washington University, a K-12 educator specializing in Environmental Education and Outreach, shared his set of educational playing cards based on Salish Sea ecosystems and drawing from indigenous designs and understanding of the environment.
View the meeting recording here: Innovate Approaches to STEM Education
November 15, 2022 | Inflation, economic outlooks, costs, and resources; Brigid Tuck and David Williams.
Professor Brigid Tuck, Ag-Economist from the University of Minnesota Extension presented a talk called “Inflation, economic outlooks, and the costs of inputs for farming and ranching in 2023.”
Zoom presentation (0:00 – 14:00)
David Williams, USDA/ERS Research Agricultural Economist, presented Federal Agency Resources.
Zoom presentation (14:00 – end)| Commodity Costs and Returns | 2022 Farm Sector Income Forecast
October 18, 2022 | Drought vs. Aridification in the West, Dr. Zachary Hoylman and Chris Borden
Dr. Zachary Hoylman from the Montana Climate Office discussed changes that are needed in the way we assess and describe drought, in his presentation “Drought Assessment Has Been Outpaced By Climate Change.”
Zoom presentation (0:00 – 17:00)|UMRB Drought Indicators Dashboard
Hoylman, Z.H., Bocinsky, R.K. & Jencso, K.G. Drought assessment has been outpaced by climate change: empirical arguments for a paradigm shift. Nat Commun 13, 2715 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30316-5
Chris Borden from NRCS presented on USDA NRCS Climate Change Adaptation and Drought Mitigation Conservation Practices.
September 13, 2022 | Western Drought Update; Dr. Kyle Bocinsky
Dr. Kyle Bocinsky presented an update on the Western drought. Dr. Bocinsky is the Director of Climate Extension in the Montana Climate Office at the University of Montana, and a member of the Native Climate team.
PowerPoint Slides (view PDF) | Zoom presentation
Older Presentations & Additional Resources
- COVID-Climate Working Group – View presentations that were given to the COVID-Climate Working Group between October 2021 and August 2022 via the Native Waters on Arid Lands website.
- COVID-19 Working Group Story Map – ArcGIS Story Map documenting the efforts of this working group during earlier portions of the COVID19 pandemic (March 2020 – October 2021), including information on COVID-19 response projects and links to past presentations.
- NIFA Tribal Programs – Explore the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s tribal programs through interactive maps and data
- Facts Not Fear – Accurate information and educational resources for Tribal members and Tribal Extension Experts about COVID-19 and vaccines. A resource developed through the work of NWAL’s COVID-19 Working Group.