Climate Data Portal
Getting Started
About the Portal
The Climate Data Portal for US Native Lands was developed to support tribal efforts towards Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plans. It sparked from identified gaps in data access specific to tribal needs consistent with the historical lack of relevant and appropriate data available for tribal lands’ sovereign management.
We understand that enforcing your tribal sovereignty and planning for the future of your land can be challenging, especially when it comes to accessing the necessary resources and data. The portal aims to bridge this gap by providing a centralized, comprehensive platform for climate-related data, specifically tailored to the unique needs of Native American Tribes.
Michael Kotutwa Johnson, Assistant Specialist at the Indigenous Resiliency Center, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, and a valued member of our Tribal Climate Advisory Committee, has prepared the following statement on the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for Native communities:
“Native communities have a cultural and spiritual belief system that ties them to the land. Over time, these communities have become familiar with the concept of “place.” Place, used here refers to at least seven generations of these communities residing in the environment they have become integral to. There is no separation from their environment, as even those objects and locations have names. Over those generations, Native communities have taken years of observations of how to interact with their surroundings, adapt techniques to survive, and what foods and medicines to collect. Western science calls this Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). I like to call it “the things my grandfather taught me.” These intergenerational teachings have changed over time through adaptations and moves with climatic fluctuations. The importance of these “ways of life” for Native Communities is built on past experiences, and they are used to adapt to what is now called “climate change.” The observations and skill sets acquired for survival have created an interdependency in the areas they inhabit. Relationships are the key to the survival of Native Communities on a level most cannot understand.”
Our vision is to empower tribes with the data and tools needed to make informed decisions about their lands and resources in the face of climate change. By providing access to high-quality, relevant data, we hope to facilitate the creation of robust Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plans that are practical, actionable, and grounded in the reality of each tribe’s specific circumstances.
The development of this portal addresses long-standing issues with data accessibility and relevance for tribal lands. Historically, tribes have faced numerous barriers to obtaining the data necessary for effective land and resource management. These barriers have often led to delays and difficulties in implementing plans, leaving tribes without the information needed to safeguard their lands and communities against the impacts of climate change.
Recognizing the importance of bioregions, this portal provides data that supports bioregional planning and conservation efforts. We utilized the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) “Regions” as our selector for bioregions. The NCAI Policy Research Center has developed a series of Regional Data Profiles for all 12 NCAI Areas, providing region-level population demographic data and information on trends in education, household, and economic characteristics by states in each region.
Tribes have been leading innovators in many areas, including bison restoration and multi-species kinship systems, demonstrating the effectiveness of tribal-led conservation and climate projects. These initiatives are not only critical for environmental stewardship but also serve as models for broader climate adaptation strategies.
The portal benefits from the expertise and guidance of our Tribal Climate Advisory Committee, which includes distinguished members such as Kyle Whyte, Joseph Brewer, and Michael Kotutwa Johnson. Their insights and leadership help ensure that the portal meets the highest standards of relevance and utility for tribal climate planning.
The data presented on this portal comes from reprocessed publicly-available datasets, selected through a thorough analysis of Climate Data Needs in U. S. Native Lands. Our goal is to provide tribes with relevant and actionable data to support Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Plans.
However, it is important to acknowledge that many publicly available datasets nationwide for agricultural and land planning are primarily based on a western-minded commodified relationship with the land. We recognize that indigenous ways of knowing and inhabiting the land involve maintaining kinship relations within the environment. These datasets, while valuable, do not fully capture these nuances.
Despite this limitation, the data provided enables tribes to meet the basic requirements for climate and land management plans. This allows you to focus on what matters most: incorporating your own traditional knowledge and land management practices to ensure your plans are unique to your community and its specific needs.
By leveraging these datasets alongside your indigenous knowledge systems, you can create comprehensive and culturally relevant plans that honor both modern data-driven insights and traditional ecological wisdom. This integration is essential for developing effective and resilient strategies to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on your lands and communities.
Disclaimer
It is important to note that all the data compiled into our dashboards are sourced from publicly available federal datasets. NLAP’s role is to make this information more accessible for Native Nations to support their land and resource planning. We are committed to honoring Native land caretakers by not publishing or amplifying any sensitive data. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Getting Started with the Climate Data Portal
Welcome to the Climate Data Portal, developed by the Native Lands Advocacy Project with support from the Native American Agricultural Fund, and hosted on the Native Land Information System (NLIS). This portal is designed to empower Native American tribes and communities by providing easy access to critical climate-related data that supports tribal climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Here, you’ll find everything you need to begin your journey, including an overview of the portal’s purpose, key features, and guidance on how to navigate and utilize these resources effectively to drive informed, culturally relevant decisions
Why This Portal Was Created
Indigenous communities in North America are disproportionately impacted by climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recognized that Indigenous peoples are among the first to experience the direct consequences of climate change due to their close relationship with the environment and its resources. These impacts are further exacerbated by the political and economic marginalization, loss of land and resources, and other challenges Indigenous communities face.
In the United States, the lack of access to data specifically aggregated at the reservation level further compromises the ability of Native American communities to prepare for and respond to the environmental, economic, demographic, social, and political changes driven by climate change. There is an urgent need for accessible data that supports tribes in securing and managing their lands using Indigenous practices, knowledge, and ethics. This includes data for monitoring water resources, predicting habitat changes, modeling climate scenarios, and planning for future demographic shifts.
What the Portal Offers
The Climate Data Portal addresses the critical need for accessible, relevant, and usable climate-related data for tribal communities. It compiles key data from various trusted sources and presents it in a way that is easy to navigate and understand. The portal includes data on ecosystems, species, and environmental factors under the themes of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water, as well as data on infrastructure and socioeconomics under the theme Life—all critical components for comprehensive climate planning.
By providing centralized access to these data resources, the portal streamlines the process of finding and gathering relevant information, reducing the time and effort required to compile the data needed for tribal climate planning. The goal is to enhance tribal sovereignty by equipping tribes with the data they need to make informed decisions about their lands and resources.
How to Use This Portal
Navigating the Data: The portal is organized into thematic sections (Air, Earth, Fire, Water, and Life) to help you quickly find the data relevant to your needs. Each section includes interactive maps, data dashboards, storymaps, and downloadable datasets, along with all of our blog posts related to these topics. These tools are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, even for those with limited technical experience.
Interpreting the Data: While the data provided is extensive, we recognize the importance of contextualizing this information within the framework of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). For instance, species suitability maps can be enhanced by incorporating local TEK from hunters or plant collectors. Although this portal publishes standard scientific data, it encourages users to integrate it with their specific regional TEK. By doing so, users can achieve a more holistic understanding of climate impacts, tailored to their unique cultural and environmental contexts.
Video Tutorials and Guides: Although this section is still under development, we plan to offer video tutorials and guides to help users understand how to use the portal effectively. These resources will walk you through key features and demonstrate how to use the data to inform climate planning.
Privacy and Data Considerations: We are committed to critically assessing the value of each dataset in promoting Native peoples while safeguarding community privacy. Our approach is always forward-thinking, with a focus on continuously improving the datasets and tools we provide.
Our Commitment to Native Communities
Our work on the Climate Data Portal is guided by several key principles:
- Building Native Research Capacity: We aim to support the development of research skills and knowledge within Native communities by providing tools and data that are both accessible and relevant.
- Balancing Data Utility with Privacy: We carefully weigh the benefits of each dataset against the potential risks to community privacy, always prioritizing the rights of Native peoples.
- Integrating Scientific Data with TEK: We believe in the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and encourage users to integrate it with the scientific data provided. Our goal is to support the enhancement of local climate strategies by showing how these complementary approaches can be used together.
Getting Started
We invite you to explore the Climate Data Portal and utilize its resources to support your tribe’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. As you navigate through the portal, you’ll find tools and data that can help you build a more resilient future for your lands and communities. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Together, we can ensure that Native American tribes have the data and tools they need to protect their lands, preserve their cultures, and thrive in the face of climate change.
