Attendees of the first Pacific Northwest Native American Workshop on Bats

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. Photo by Dr. Ernest Valdez at ernie@usgs.gov.