Indigenous community health and climate change: Integrating social and natural science indicators
Presentation Abstract
This presentation describes a pilot study completed in 2013 that evaluated the sensitivity of Indigenous community health to climate change impacts on shorelines in the Salish Sea (Washington State, United States and British Columbia, Canada). Current climate change assessments do not reflect key community health concerns, yet meaningfully including these concerns is vital to successful adaptation plans, particularly for Indigenous communities. Descriptive scaling techniques were employed in facilitated workshops with two Indigenous communities to test the efficacy of ranking six key indicators of community health (Community Connection, Natural Resources Security, Cultural Use, Education, Self Determination and Well-being) in relation to projected changes in the biophysical environment (sea level rise, storm surge, beach armoring) and resultant impacts to shellfish habitat and shoreline archaeological sites. Findings demonstrate that: when shellfish habitat and archaeological resources are impacted, so too is Indigenous community health; not all community health indicators are equally impacted; and, the community health indicators of highest concern are not necessarily the same indicators most likely to be impacted. Based on the findings and feedback from community participants, the exploratory trials were successful, and such a tool may be useful to Indigenous communities who are assessing climate change sensitivities and creating adaptation plans.
Session Title
Session S-01H: Social and Ecological Indicators
Conference Track
Social Science Plus
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
30-4-2014 10:30 AM
End Date
30-4-2014 12:00 PM
Location
Room 607
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Indians of North America--Health--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Climatic changes--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Indians of North America--Social aspects--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Indigenous community health and climate change: Integrating social and natural science indicators
Room 607
This presentation describes a pilot study completed in 2013 that evaluated the sensitivity of Indigenous community health to climate change impacts on shorelines in the Salish Sea (Washington State, United States and British Columbia, Canada). Current climate change assessments do not reflect key community health concerns, yet meaningfully including these concerns is vital to successful adaptation plans, particularly for Indigenous communities. Descriptive scaling techniques were employed in facilitated workshops with two Indigenous communities to test the efficacy of ranking six key indicators of community health (Community Connection, Natural Resources Security, Cultural Use, Education, Self Determination and Well-being) in relation to projected changes in the biophysical environment (sea level rise, storm surge, beach armoring) and resultant impacts to shellfish habitat and shoreline archaeological sites. Findings demonstrate that: when shellfish habitat and archaeological resources are impacted, so too is Indigenous community health; not all community health indicators are equally impacted; and, the community health indicators of highest concern are not necessarily the same indicators most likely to be impacted. Based on the findings and feedback from community participants, the exploratory trials were successful, and such a tool may be useful to Indigenous communities who are assessing climate change sensitivities and creating adaptation plans.
