A working group was held during the 2017 National Adaptation Forum to build collaborative capacity on issues related to Tribal agriculture and natural resource management in a changing climate. We developed three synthetic themes from these discussions and dialogue to highlight on-going opportunities, but also demonstrate areas for continued engagement with Tribes related to effective agricultural and natural resource management. We hope this forum demonstrates the critical importance of partnerships, and motivates further coordination and collaboration among Tribes, universities and Federal agencies.  

Native food and fiber systems are quite vulnerable to future changes in climate (Bennett et al., Reference Bennett, Maynard, Cochran, Gough, Lynn, Maldonado, Voggesser, Wotkyns, Cozzetto, Melillo, Richmond and Yohe2014; Norton-Smith et al., Reference Norton-Smith, Lynn, Chief, Cozzetto, Donatuto, Hiza Redsteer, Kruger, Maldonado, Viles and Whyte2016). Increasing temperatures, as well as shifts in precipitation frequency and intensity, will disproportionately impact Tribal agriculture, as well as other ecological services (e.g., water quantity and quality, open range, etc.), which also have spiritual and cultural significance to Native Americans (Bennett et al., Reference Bennett, Maynard, Cochran, Gough, Lynn, Maldonado, Voggesser, Wotkyns, Cozzetto, Melillo, Richmond and Yohe2014; Norton-Smith et al., Reference Norton-Smith, Lynn, Chief, Cozzetto, Donatuto, Hiza Redsteer, Kruger, Maldonado, Viles and Whyte2016). Indigenous communities have always adapted to long-term changes (Nakashima et al., Reference Nakashima, Galloway McLean, Thulstrup, Ramos-Castillo and Rubis2012; Wildcat, Reference Wildcat2013) through multi-generational communication of traditional ecological knowledge. Despite their great capacity for adaptation, there remains institutional barriers and untapped collaborative opportunities to effectively maintain and enhance Native food security (Whyte, Reference Whyte2013; McNeeley, Reference McNeeley2017).