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 Tuesdays of each month at 10a PT/ 11a MT/ 12p CT/ 1p ET.
To join, please contact Vicki Hebb, [email protected].
Schedule
- 21 March 2023 – Agriculture Climate Review with Kyle Bocinsky
This featured topic will cover important aspects of climate impacts on agriculture, focusing especially on the effects these will have on native producers. Join us from 10-11 AM PT on Zoom to discuss this exciting topic and interface with other climate and agriculture professionals!
View the meeting agenda here: NCWG Agenda 21MARCH23
Past Presentations & Resources
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.