About: This workshop was attended by 30 individuals from the Yakama Nation, Quinault Indian Nation, Kalispel Tribe, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, Umatilla Tribe, Yurok Tribe, Snoqualmie Tribe, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Colville Tribe, White Mountain Apache, Pueblo of Isleta, Navajo Nation and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, as well as sister agencies within DOI, non-DOI agencies, NGOs, and universities. During this workshop, indigenous knowledge keepers provided information on the loss of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in the context of bats, biology and changes across their lands. This workshop also included speakers that provided information on the threats, particularly white-nose syndrome, and instructed on the various methods and technical skills that could be implemented during efforts to monitor for the seasonal presence of bats. Some support for this workshop has been provided by USGS-Office of Tribal Relations. For additional information, please contact Dr. Ernest Valdez at ernie@usgs.gov.

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Background Information: The Pacific Northwest Native American Workshop on Bats represents the first of its kind for this region. Because white-nose syndrome and other threats are having a large impact on the populations of bats across North America, it is important to bring awareness and provide instruction on technical skills, to tribal biologists and others, needed to monitor these threats and obtain baseline information on bats from tribal lands. This workshop is especially important because many tribal biologists and resource managers are limited on funds needed to attend specialized workshops, such as those on bats. Therefore, this workshop is free to all tribal biologists, resource managers and college students from their respective lands of the Northwest and surrounding areas. The workshop took place from August 8-9, 2023 in Toppenish, Washington.