Building Tribal Engagement Through the Shifting Seasons Summit

Building on a strong tradition of collaboration, the College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute (CMN SDI) coordinated a second offering of its Shifting Seasons Summit to bring scientists, practitioners, indigenous people, and students together around the issue of climate change. The summit was developed to specifically unite Northeast Climate Science Center (NE CSC) researchers with American Indian/indigenous practitioners and scientists to better communicate the resources available through the NE CSC, to build awareness of the overall mission of the CSC network, and to provide participants an opportunity to network and learn more about tribal cultural, social, environmental, and economic issues related to climate change. Participants gained introductory and more advanced climate change adaptation planning skills and information, identified next steps for adaptation, and made connections that linked tribes with academic/governmental programs that can provide needed climate change tools and resources.