Last week, the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) published a report on opportunities to support Tribal Nations managing drought on Tribal lands. The report, Rethinking Resilience: Toward Holistic Approaches to Drought Management on Tribal Lands in the Upper Columbia and Missouri River Basin, captures a range of best practices and opportunities that Tribal Nations, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and their partners identified to strengthen engagement and action around drought resilience. The report synthesizes the Workshop for Building Drought Resilience in a Changing Climate with Upper Columbia and Missouri Basin Tribes. Building on existing investments to advance the NIDIS Tribal Drought Engagement Strategy, NIDIS and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation held the workshop in September 2023. The workshop explored pressing needs related to building drought resilience. These discussions turned to larger issues and barriers that Tribal Nations face.
The synthesis report has two sections. “Workshop Process and Best Practices” focuses on what the organizers learned while forming the workshop committees, managing complex logistics, designing and executing the workshop, and sustaining the engagement to reinforce trusted relationships. “Workshop Outcomes and Opportunities” provides an overview of key messages and opportunities for those who would like to learn more from Tribal Nations and their partners about the most pressing issues regarding tribal drought resilience in a changing climate and how to best move forward. Themes and key messages that emerged from these discussions included:
- Build Mutual Respect and Understanding
- Adjust Federal Funding Procedures
- Invest in Tribal Workforce
- Enhance Drought Monitoring
- Share Drought Resilience Stories
For more information, contact Crystal Stiles.
