Session Description
Traditional climate impact assessments often treat "safety" as a purely biophysical metric, resulting in data that is technically accurate but functionally leaves gaps in applying to daily community life. This session explores the need for data that is actionable, incorporating the impacts on a community’s lived experiences.
Using Alaskan case studies, we will facilitate a dialogue on moving beyond the "safety" trap. For example, the relocation from Newtok to Mertavik demonstrates that a new site with reduced biophysical risk is still a failure if it does not support traditional subsistence and cultural needs. Participants will discuss how to identify the driving factors for traditional activities, such as tide patterns for seaweed harvest or ground freeze for caribou travel, and integrate them into models.
We will pivot from a "validation check" model to an "embedded science" model. This involves tangible actions for community inclusion, such as:
• Participatory Mapping: Identifying ice cellars and food collection sites to drive technical modeling.
• Capacity Building: Hiring and training local members as data collectors and drone pilots rather than outside "extractive" scientists.
• Data Sovereignty: Establishing frameworks where Indigenous nations own all data and decide what is disseminated to the public.
By coupling First-line Science from the project’s inception, we can prioritize actions, e.g., deciding to protect in place or relocate, based not just on if the community will be safe but will it thrive. The goal is to give a greater voice to those at the forefront of climate change.
Session Summary
This World Café explores integrating local science from project inception to ensure climate data supports daily life and traditional practices. Through Alaskan case studies, we discuss moving beyond mere "safety" to preserve culture and food security, emphasizing tangible community actions and Indigenous data sovereignty.
Additional Information
Structure
Round 1: Beyond Being "Safe": How to design climate solutions that prioritize subsistence lifestyles and cultural continuity over simple infrastructure protection, and map "suitability" for traditional activities.
Round 2: Embedded Science: How to use local knowledge as a foundational driver of technical models, using participatory mapping to define the variables to identify the daily needs of the community.
Round 3: Tangible Actions: Maintain data sovereignty and move toward Indigenous-directed action plans.
Session Chair
Ronni Wilcock
Two Bears Environmental Consulting, LLC
United States
Session Co-chair
Jaimlyn Sypniewski
Two Bears Environmental Consulting, LLC
United States