COMMITTEE REPORT<\/p>\n
_____________________________________________________<\/p>\n
\u2018 CLIMATE RESILIENCE\u2019<\/p>\n
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians –
\n2025 Midyear Convention
\nAirway Heights, WA<\/p>\n
DISCUSSION<\/p>\n
1. Opening and Introduction<\/p>\n
\u2022 Meeting commenced with a blessing and introductions (3:30 – 3:40 PM)<\/p>\n
2. Committee Leadership (3:40 – 3:49 PM)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Co-Chair Confirmation: Tony DiBenedetto (Coquille) nominated as Co-Chair<\/p>\n
Voice vote conducted with participation from:<\/p>\n
Jefferson Greene (Warm Springs) – Yes
\nJeremy Takala (Yakama) – Yes
\nREPRESENTATIVE (Umatilla) – Yes
\nREPRESENTATIVE (Cow Creek Band of Umpqua) – Yes<\/p>\n
\u2022 Discussion held regarding additional co-chairs<\/p>\n
Committee to confirm possibility with ATNI Executive Board
\nInterest expressed in establishing working committee(s)<\/p>\n
3. Climate Resilience Charter Development (3:49 – 3:54 PM)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Review of previously passed resolutions:<\/p>\n
2023-20: Climate Resilience Committee Mission Statement
\n2024-15: Supporting Tribal Engagement and Climate Action In Oregon: Endorsement of the Oregon Climate Action Commission\u2019s Tribal Engagement Strategy In Alignment With Oregon H.B. 3409 Priorities
\n2024-28: Support Internal Coordination to Share and Plan for Future Climate Change Impacts
\n2024-29: Support Outreach to Local Teachers to Learn About ATNI Climate Change Work<\/p>\n
\u2022 Mission statement discussion:<\/p>\n
Supporting Tribal engagement and climate action commission
\nSupporting internal coordination for sharing and planning for future climate change impacts
\nSupporting outreach to local teachers regarding ATNI Climate Change work<\/p>\n
\u2022 Committee Priorities<\/p>\n
Goal 1: Establish committee structure<\/p>\n
Progress made with election of Tony DiBenedetto<\/p>\n
Goal 2: Define committee intentions<\/p>\n
Communicate the importance of climate resilience<\/p>\n
Goal 3: Engage with Tribal leaders<\/p>\n
4. Tribal Updates and Feedback (3:54 – 4:11 PM)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Colville Confederated Tribes<\/p>\n
Surrounded by water with ferry access needs
\nCurrent ferry is 45 years old without dry dock maintenance
\nWorking on $350M bridge construction project<\/p>\n
\u2022 Spokane Tribe<\/p>\n
Using CCA funding to contract and build native plant nursery for habitat restoration
\nEstablishing a composting facility
\nGHG reduction efforts include solar farms feasibility study<\/p>\n
\u2022 Quinault Tribe<\/p>\n
NWIFC representative noted resource challenges under current administration<\/p>\n
Climate impacts include:<\/p>\n
Loss of one glacier (previously had three, now two remain)
\nCoastal village affected by sea level rise and storm surges
\nWater temperature increases causing pre-spawn mortality in fish
\nSecured $25M from previous administration for village relocation
\nFaced forest fire in the Olympics five years ago that was difficult to combat due to terrain
\n$25M grant from UW was revoked
\nSea wall breach occurred in Neah Bay on the Strait of Juan de Fuca<\/p>\n
Expressed concerns about funding continuity and strategy needed for addressing climate issues under current administration<\/p>\n
\u2022 Nimiipu Energy (Nez Perce)<\/p>\n
Implemented solar covered parking
\nEstablishing an energy sovereignty division
\nAdapting language to align with current administration requirements
\nReplacing 60 GSA vehicles with EVs and installing charging stations<\/p>\n
\u2022 Nez Perce Tribe EPA Grants<\/p>\n
60-74 EV charging stations
\n62 plug-in hybrid vehicles to replace Tribe’s fleet
\nCasino development as emergency evacuation center, along with 2 other off-grid buildings
\nClimate-ready housing model with off-grid solar capability
\nFire identified as largest risk with challenging evacuation scenarios
\nTree planting for carbon sequestration
\nUniversity of Idaho streamflow project
\n350 wood stove replacements for Tribal citizens
\nNoted that all grants are currently at risk<\/p>\n
\u2022 ATNI CRC Response<\/p>\n
Planning to develop strategy with workgroup that is responsive and guided by Tribes
\nWill follow up via email<\/p>\n
5. Resolutions (4:11 – 4:27 PM)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Resolution #2025-xx: Defending Oregon\u2019s Climate Protection Program to Safeguard Tribal Sovereignty, Public Health, and Future Generations<\/p>\n
Presented by Sea-ah-dom Edmo
\nProgram expected to generate $25B over next 25 years
\nIncludes 15% Tribal set-aside ($10-35M per year for Oregon Tribes)
\nEligibility extends to Tribes with vested interest in Oregon lands
\nSimilar to Washington’s Climate Commitment Funds
\nClarification provided that Tribes will not have to pay to access funds
\nSeeding Justice nonprofit soliciting feedback on steering committee structure<\/p>\n
Resolution Voting<\/p>\n
Resolution read
\nDiscussion<\/p>\n
Question: Concerning funding aspect of the program, will Tribes have to pay to access these funds?
\nAnswer: No, Tribes will not have to pay.<\/p>\n
Comment: Seeding Justice nonprofit has been requesting feedback on the type of steering committee and what it will look like for the next 25 years.<\/p>\n
Motion made by Tony DiBenedetto (Coquille Tribe)
\nSeconded by REPRESENTATIVE (Umatilla)
\nPassed unanimously with no abstentions or oppositions
\nWill move to floor at General Assembly on Thursday<\/p>\n
6. Presentations<\/p>\n
\u2022 ATNI Climate Program Presentation (4:27 – 4:50 PM)<\/p>\n
Overview of past and current ATNI Climate Program resources
\nOpportunity for ATNI staff to visit Tribes by year end
\nEncouragement to contact Patrick Freeland and Kylie Avery (ATNI staff) for support<\/p>\n
Comment: Call for unity and cooperation among Tribes during uncertain funding times. \u201cWe are strategizing and are not yet aware of what all is going away or coming back. Unity, it is the time for unity and to work together. We have to put disagreements aside to work together during this time and ask neighboring Tribes to see how they can support one another.\u201d \u2013 Tony DiBenedetto<\/p>\n
Comment: Climate adaptation plans, 20 Tribes from NWIFC. Connecting climate scientists and policy analysts and liaisons. NWIFC has a database. Infrastructure is there, now we pull it all together. Noted existing climate adaptation plans for 20 Tribes and database resources; requested stronger language in resolutions.<\/p>\n
Comment: Opportunity from the Solar for All, and other funding sources, Tribes can to access funding to support clean energy projects.<\/p>\n
Comment: CPRG WA Climate Commitment Act, for Tribes in usual and accustomed lands in WA, to request funds by Thursday 05\/15\/2025.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Increasing Statewide Landscape Resilience – Andy Maggi, Pew Charitable Trust<\/p>\n
Update on OR Tribal Engagement Strategy
\nInterest in connecting with Tribes working on climate adaptation strategies<\/p>\n
8. Open Discussion (4:56 – 4:59 PM)<\/p>\n
\u2022 Resolution Follow-through – Kat Brigham (Umatilla)<\/p>\n
Update on 2024-29 resolution implementation
\nUmatilla applied for ATNI grant to develop curriculum on Tribal sovereignty and rights
\nUpcoming Oregon\/eastern Washington workshop announced<\/p>\n
\u2022 Co-chairs Feedback \u2013 Tony DiBenedetto (Coquille Tribe), Eddie Sherman (Against the Current Consulting)<\/p>\n
Call for Tribal leaders to consider becoming co-chairs: representing northern coastal Tribes and western inland Tribes
\nInvitation for attendees to join working groups \/ task force<\/p>\n
\u2022 Bennett Hesmark, Tribal Climate Resilience Program Manager, WA Dept of Commerce, announced funding availability<\/p>\n
9. Meeting adjourned at 4:59 PM.<\/p>\n
ADOPTED AND RECOMMENDED TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY<\/p>\n
Resolution #2025-xx: Defending Oregon\u2019s Climate Protection Program to Safeguard Tribal Sovereignty, Public Health, and Future Generations<\/p>\n
COMMITTEE – TABLED<\/p>\n
N\/A<\/p>\n
Minutes\/Report submitted by: _________________________________________________
\nCommittee Chair<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
COMMITTEE REPORT _____________________________________________________ \u2018 CLIMATE RESILIENCE\u2019 Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians – 2025 Midyear Convention Airway Heights, WA DISCUSSION 1. Opening and Introduction \u2022 Meeting commenced with a blessing and introductions (3:30 – 3:40 PM) 2. Committee Leadership (3:40 – 3:49 PM) \u2022 Co-Chair Confirmation: Tony DiBenedetto (Coquille) nominated as Co-Chair Voice vote conducted with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5872"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5894,"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5872\/revisions\/5894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atnitribes.org\/climatechange\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}