Sociocultural dimensions of ocean acidification and related changes in marine food systems, a community-based project with Squaxin Island Tribe
Presentation Abstract
This presentation discusses the sociocultural dimensions of ocean acidification (OA) through a community-based participatory project with the Squaxin Island Tribe located in South Puget Sound. Ecological conditions of the Salish Sea are complex, and face increasing pressures and uncertainties from climate-related ocean changes. One type of ocean change, OA, is altering bio-chemical processes of coastal waters, with potentially negative impacts to marine resources important to human communities. For many millennia, the people of the Squaxin Island Tribe have relied on marine resources such as clams, oysters, and salmon for food, ceremony, and trade. Rights to access and use these important seafoods are protected in the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek. Since 2014, our team has been working to document the social, cultural, and health importance of clams, oysters and other shellfish with the goal of providing community-driven information to improve regional environmental planning. Here, we present results from recent participatory interviews and community workshops to identify the social and cultural vulnerabilities of OA based on anticipated effects to culturally-important species. We also discuss efforts to develop local strategies to respond to these and other challenges, and point to some of the broader regional implications for meeting these challenges together.
Session Title
Climate Change and Culturally Important Foods, Resources, and Places in the Salish Ecosystem
Conference Track
Climate Change and Ocean Acidification
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
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)
Ocean acidification--Social aspects--Washington (State); Squaxin Island Tribe of the Squaxin Island Reservation, Washington--Social conditions--21st century; Climatic changes--Social aspects--Washington (State)
Geographic Coverage
Washington (State); 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
Sociocultural dimensions of ocean acidification and related changes in marine food systems, a community-based project with Squaxin Island Tribe
2016SSEC
This presentation discusses the sociocultural dimensions of ocean acidification (OA) through a community-based participatory project with the Squaxin Island Tribe located in South Puget Sound. Ecological conditions of the Salish Sea are complex, and face increasing pressures and uncertainties from climate-related ocean changes. One type of ocean change, OA, is altering bio-chemical processes of coastal waters, with potentially negative impacts to marine resources important to human communities. For many millennia, the people of the Squaxin Island Tribe have relied on marine resources such as clams, oysters, and salmon for food, ceremony, and trade. Rights to access and use these important seafoods are protected in the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek. Since 2014, our team has been working to document the social, cultural, and health importance of clams, oysters and other shellfish with the goal of providing community-driven information to improve regional environmental planning. Here, we present results from recent participatory interviews and community workshops to identify the social and cultural vulnerabilities of OA based on anticipated effects to culturally-important species. We also discuss efforts to develop local strategies to respond to these and other challenges, and point to some of the broader regional implications for meeting these challenges together.
