Indicators of Climate Change: Impacts on California Tribes

Owens Lake, a mostly dry lake on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada.  This area has been the homeland of Native American tribes since time immemorial. Photo credit: B. Lock, OEHHA

OEHHA recognizes the value of Tribal knowledge in reporting on, and raising awareness of, climate impacts. OEHHA engages with California Tribes on an ongoing basis.
We invite Tribes to contact us at any time to work together on this project.

California Tribes and Climate Change: Voices from the Frontlines (Video Series)

As part of our efforts to document the impacts of climate change on California, OEHHA is producing a series of videos in which Tribes tell their own climate change stories. Through these videos, OEHHA aims to help amplify Tribal voices and recognize the value of indigenous knowledge around climate change issues – a promise OEHHA made when we started working with Tribes on climate change. These videos are intended to bring to life the information on the impacts of climate change on California’s Tribal Nations – which is presented as a new section in the fourth edition of the Indicators of Climate Change in California report, released in 2022.

The first of the videos features the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians was filmed in Lake County. The Tribes speak about the impacts of climate change on their communities, families, resources, and lives.

Reports: Impacts of Climate Change on California Tribes

The fourth edition of the Indicators of Climate Change Report includes the following reports on the impacts of climate change on California Tribes. These reports are just the beginning. We hope to collaborate with more Tribes to document the climate impacts they have observed and experienced.

• Amah Mutsun Tribal Band
  • Amah Mutsun Summary report
• Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley
  • Big Pine Summary report
• Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California
  • Big Valley Summary report
• Bishop Paiute Tribe
  • Bishop Paiute Summary report
• Karuk Tribe
  • Karuk Summary report
• North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California
  • North Fork Summary report
• Pala Band of Mission Indians
  • Pala Summary report
• Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
  • Santa Ynez Summary report

Listening Session summaries

• Eastern Sierra Listening Session Summary – Co-hosted with Bishop Paiute Tribe; August 2020
• Southern California Listening Session Summary – Co-hosted with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and the Pala Band of Mission Indians; March/April 2021
• Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino Listening Session - Co-hosted with the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California; May 2021

Interested in providing input?

If your tribe is interested in providing input, please contact us at any time.

Bennett Lock, bennett.lock@oehha.ca.gov

Laurie Monserrat, laurie.monserrat@oehha.ca.gov

To stay connected, join the listserv to get updates on opportunities to provide input:

https://oehha.ca.gov/about/listserv

Videos

Climate Conversations

A video by the California Department of Water Resources discussing the first-hand the consequences of climate change tribes face as they depend upon their environment for subsistence, traditional and spiritual practices, and sacred places.

Grants/Funding

California Native American Tribal Relations: Funding Opportunities

The California Environmental Protection Agency and its Boards, Departments and Offices offer various funding opportunities that are eligible to California Native American Tribal governments.

California Grants Portal

For more information on OEHHA's collaboration with California tribes, contact OEHHA's Tribal Liaison:

Laurie Monserrat (Laurie.Monserrat@oehha.ca.gov)