Tribal Nations and Indigenous Communities have witnessed changes in the climate from time immemorial. However, anthropogenic climate change coupled with the impacts of colonization pose unique challenges for Tribal Nations. Despite these challenges, Tribal Nations are leading the way in climate change adaptation planning and resilience. This talk will provide geographic background and political status of Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities in the U.S. with an emphasis on the East Coast and coastal Indigenous communities. It will then discuss climate change impacts and concerns of Tribal Nations in addition to sharing some examples of Tribal-led climate change adaptation. The talk will conclude with comments on examples of respectful engagement with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities in the space of climate change adaptation and building partnerships.

BIO: Casey Thornbrugh is an Indigenous Geographer with a background in Climate Science. He has a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Arizona and is a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Casey taught geography and climate science courses both at the University of Arizona and at Tohono O’odham Community College, a Tribal College serving the Tohono O’odham Nation. Upon completion of his Ph.D., Casey returned home to work as the Natural Resources Director for his Tribal Nation, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe until 2017. Over the past six years Casey has worked as a Climate Science Liaison for United South and Eastern Tribes Inc. (USET) working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Climate Resilience Branch (BIA-TCR) and the Northeast and Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Centers (NE/SE CASC). In this role, he has worked with agencies and departments of Tribal Nations to provide climate science information, identify climate research needs and priorities, and offer climate adaptation planning support. Casey is also serving as a co-author on the Fifth National Climate Assessment – Northeast Chapter.