The South Central CASC has made it a priority to focus on working with the many Tribes and Pueblos located within their region. Many of these Tribes and Pueblos have already experienced the effects of climate change and have found ways to adapt over time. With Tribes and Pueblos representing a major landowner group in the region having a significant role in water management due to tribal treaty water rights, it is crucial that they be involved in CASC work. The Chickasaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma became consortium members at the South Central CASC conception. Under this arrangement, the South Central CASC employs a full-time Tribal Liaison through the Chickasaw Nation and a New Mexico Tribal Liaison through the University of Oklahoma. These Tribal Liaisons aide communication between tribal staff and researchers, develop partnerships for climate science projects, build tribal manager capacity through trainings and workshops, and conduct tribal youth engagement programs.
For more information about our Tribal Engagement Efforts, visit our website: https://southcentralclimate.org/native-nations/
