Regional Climate Symposium brings community together
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By Alexandra Amonette for Citizens’ Climate Lobby
“This symposium exceeded all my expectations! We had overwhelming positive feedback,” said Sierra Mahseelah.
Mahseelah was speaking about the historically significant Regional Climate Symposium held at the KwaTaqNuk Resort and Casino in Polson, Montana. Representatives from tribes, state, federal, educational, and nongovernmental organizations met to share their knowledge of and discuss solutions to mitigate climate change. Nonprofits, such as Families for a Livable Climate also participated.
“We are now in a time when people are talking more about the climate; it’s getting the attention it needs. We are building momentum and learning how to educate people to answer the questions, ‘What can we do to help preserve tribal life and our communities and how can we build community partnerships,’” said Mahseelah.
The symposium participants shared climate-related work and insights, emphasizing topics such as climate change impacts, sustainable resource management, renewable energy solutions, biodiversity conservation, community resilience, climate justice, and technological innovations.
Origins
Whisper Camel-Means, Division Manager of the Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation in the Natural Resources Department for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe (CSKT), dreamt of having a climate symposium for a long time. In 2022, Janene Lichtenberg, SKC Wildlife & Fisheries Dept. Head/Climate Hub Project Lead, secured funding for the SKC to develop a Climate Learning Hub. Mahseelah organized the conference and also serves as the Hub’s Program Director.
The symposium and other Hub programs help carry out the Hub’s vision, to provide a ‘centralized location at SKC to learn and share information related to climate change, knowledge of the concerns and solutions, and the knowledge of the CSKT and needs of the local community.’
Presentations and Discussions
On the first day of the symposium, experts discussed numerous topics, including how people can adapt to life in a world in which the climate is changing, climate mitigation policies, strategic plans, and citizen advocacy. Reports from experts on climate impacts on forests, hydrology, wildlife, wetlands, glaciers, water bodies, and pollinators followed on day two. The CSKT also shared its Climate Resiliency Program.
Discussion panels, cultural activities, a film, and community dinner also enriched the symposium.
Some Solutions
Many practical solutions were discussed. In his presentation, Bret Luedke, a former Air Force pilot and Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) volunteer, used a simulator, EN-ROADS, to help people explore the effectiveness of various global climate solutions and policies.
“The simulator helps people understand there is no one magic bullet and that it will take a variety of solutions to address the climate problem,” Luedke said.
He added, “The one solution that seemed to resonate the most with people was simply making our homes, businesses, and schools more energy efficient by, for example, adding insulation, or weather-stripping the windows. EN-ROADS showed that this has one of the most significant impacts on the reduction in greenhouse gases emissions because of the significant decrease in the amount of energy needed to heat and cool our homes and buildings.”
Angie Winter, who also volunteers with CCL, shared CCL’s policies, including the carbon fee and cashback. This powerful economic carbon pricing tool will quickly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change. The EN-ROADS simulator also showed the effectiveness of carbon pricing.
Tribal Wisdom
For possibly more than 20,000 years, indigenous people have called the place we know as Montana, home. Tribal wisdom about living well here with the flora and fauna has been handed down over generations.
Luedke said, “At the local level, there is a lot of indigenous knowledge that can be used to inform decisions we make today to address climate change.”
Winter’s background includes a 30-year career in human resources with United Technologies Corporation, making many parts for commercial and military aircraft. An “Ah Ha!” moment at the symposium came to her when she realized that when Europeans came to the Americas, they presumed they saw “nature”. But it was “nature” from humans who had occupied the land for millennia. “We look at a forest and say, ‘this is old growth forest;’ but the only people who really know how forests work are indigenous folks.”
Mahseelah said, “The fact that our tribal elders spoke about what they know, what they’re observing going on in our environment, incorporating that with the knowledge from western-based science experts, and sharing that with the community – this was invaluable.”
In her own lifetime, Mahseelah, who is in her 30s, has noticed changes in the environment. For example, Mission Creek no longer has the bull trout she remembers seeing when she was a child.
Climate change compounds environmental problems, and fisheries all over the state are suffering. With less snowpack there is less runoff in the spring and early summer. This translates to higher stream temperatures and lower stream levels. Invasive species that can tolerate warmer water thrive, but native fish that require cold water are dying out.
Collaborations and Next Symposium
Winter said, “Whisper Camel-Means, the closing speaker, said that one of her desired goals of the symposium was to build connections and enable partnerships. And these collaborations are thriving!”
“For example,” said Mahseelah, “we had experts attend from the US Geological Survey. Now, we are partnering with them on an upcoming project that we hope to launch at the CSKT Earth Day Event on April 19th at Salish Kootenai College.”
And Mahseelah and other CSKT members are participating in the upcoming Flathead Valley Earth Day Expo on April 20th, organized by Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Mahseelah concluded, “The success of the Regional Climate Symposium truly reflects the power of community collaboration. I am thrilled to announce that we plan to host another symposium this year, building on the energy and ideas shared at this impactful event. Thank you to every participant for being vital to our collective journey toward climate resilience.”
For further information about the symposium and the SKC Climate Hub, please contact: Sierra R. Mahseelah, Climate Hub Program Director, Wildlife & Fisheries Department, Salish Kootenai College, sierra_mahseelah@skc.edu.
Alexandra Amonette volunteers with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nonprofit, volunteer-powered advocacy organization with 2,500 supporters in Montana. The Montana chapters of CCL welcome everyone to join their respectful, bipartisan efforts to urge Congress to enact commonsense solutions to reduce climate pollution and add clean domestic energy. See: cclusa.org.
