Learning Network Resources
The Alaska Tribal Resilience Learning Network Resource Page is a single location to access previous Learning Network Information Session recordings. On this page, we highlight several tools, references, and links that are useful for Alaska tribes and Indigenous communities working on climate change adaptation.
Tools and reports
Three forms of heat–related phenomena—warming temperatures, thawing permafrost, and increases in wildfire—are driving landscape change in Northern ecosystems. The Northern Climate Reports tool uses climate data to construct a variety of possible futures for a warming North.
implementing, and ways that all of us can support Tribes in adapting to our changing world.
The 
Learning Network webinars
Arctic Governance, Indigenous Peoples, and Wildfire
November 15, 2023
This session will cover an overview of the Arctic Council and Gwich'in Council International (GCI), highlighting initiatives related to governance, climate change, and promoting Indigenous Knowledge on a global level. We will discuss how decision making on the local level has an impact on the international level, and vice versa. We will also provide a deeper dive on the significance of increased wildfire in the boreal forest on global climate change and how the Arctic Council's permanent participants are meeting this challenge.
Presenters
Edward Alexander - Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich'in, Gwich'in Council International Co-Chair, Arctic educator, leader, and writer
Alaska Native Reindeer Husbandry: Food Sovereignty and Climate Resilience
October 25, 2023
This session will provide a brief history of Alaska Native reindeer husbandry in the Bering Strait and Northwest Arctic region, an assessment of the education and workforce opportunities associated with reindeer, and a vision of the future of reindeer as a path forward for climate resilience, food sovereignty, and wellness.
Presenters
Nathan Baring - Program Director of Kawerak's Reindeer Herder's Association
Bonnie Scheele - Reindeer Herder, High Latitude Range Management Program Director for University of Alaska Fairbanks Northwest Campus (UAF-NWC)
Jacqueline Hrabok - Joint Faculty, Professor UAF-NWC, Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Extension - Cooperative Extension Service (IANRE-CES) High Latitude Range Management Program
Looking Back: BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Stories of Success
September 13, 2023
This Information Session will feature previous BIA Tribal Climate Resilience recipients sharing their climate adaptation stories and how they utilized the BIA Tribal Climate Resilience funding to propel their adaption strategies forward. We will hear from Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on their Regional Greenhouse Program and the Native Village of Diomede on their program; Monitoring and Assessment of Changing Ocean Conditions on Traditional Harvest of Bering Strait King Crabs.
Presenters
Jennifer Robinette - BIA Regional Coordinator Tribal Climate Resilience Program
Kenneth Weitzel and Amy Erfling - Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Opik Ahkinga - Native Village of Diomede
T&H Tribal Climate Resilience presentation slides
Opik Ahkinga Slides
Living on Ice Rich Permafrost: 50 Years to a Slow Moving Disaster in Pt. Lay (Part 2)
May 17, 2023
This session continued a holistic look at the impacts of climate and infrastructure on permafrost thaw in Point Lay, and share how the community is adapting. Specifically this session will explore lessons learned related to housing foundations and water and sewer infrastructure from 50 years of living on ice-rich permafrost, as well as impacts of the thaw subsidence and the changing climate on community life, subsistence practices, and health and safety.
Presenters
Bill Tracey - North Slope Borough Assembly, Point Lay Resident
Kuoiqsik Curtis - Point Lay Fire Chief
Billy Connor - Director, Arctic Infrastructure Development Center at UAF
Living on Ice Rich Permafrost: 50 Years to a Slow Moving Disaster in Pt. Lay
April 19, 2023
This session will provide a holistic look at the impacts of climate and infrastructure on permafrost thaw in Point Lay, and share how the community is adapting. Specifically this session will explore lessons learned related to housing foundations and water and sewer infrastructure from 50 years of living on ice-rich permafrost, as well as impacts of the thaw subsidence and the changing climate on community life, subsistence practices, and health and safety.
Presenters
Bill Tracey - North Slope Borough Assembly, Point Lay Resident
Kuoiqsik Curtis - Point Lay Fire Chief
Billy Connor - Director, Arctic Infrastructure Development Center at UAF
Community Monitoring of River Ice
March 22, 2023
This session will offer an orientation to tools and programs in Alaska and Canada that can be used in your community to monitor river ice conditions through the winter for travel and recreation safety, and across years for climate change adaptation planning.
Presenters
Katie Spellman - Ecologist and Science Educator, Fresh Eyes on Ice Team Member
Northern Climate Reports: The future of climate for where you are
February 15, 2023
The Northern Climate Reports tool is a new website delivering climate projections in a clear format for Alaska, the Yukon and parts of British Columbia. Built from three models which project changes in wildfire, permafrost, and vegetation cover, the tool gives easy access to high level climate data through simple options to select a community or click on a map. In this session a team close to the development process of the tool will walk users through the information available in the reports, how to understand the charts, graphs, and maps, and how to export this data for use in your community for plans and reports.
Presenters
Malinda Chase - Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (AK CASC) Tribal Liaison
Jeremy Littell - United States Geological Survey (USGS) Scientist
Mike DeLue - Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (AK CASC) Communications Specialist
Presentation slides
Northern Climate Reports website
Sustaining Resilience Today applications
ACCAP Arctic Report Card webinar recording
Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska: Free summer science & art education programs for youth
January 11, 2023
Each summer, Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska offers unique, tuition-free field science and art education programs throughout Alaska. The expeditions are open to young high school women ages 16-18. Alaska Native and Indigenous youth looking to delve deeper into their passions for art, being outdoors, exploring science and team learning are especially encouraged to apply. This session will provide information about Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska 2023 expeditions: Girls* on Ice, Girls* in the Forest, and Girls* on Water. In this session, we will highlight where we go, review the application, and share what youth, who are selected for an expedition, can expect to experience! We hope that Tribes, communities and regions aiming to increase their support of youth in science and climate change education and adaptation efforts will attend.
Presenters
Sarah Clement - Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska Program Coordinator
Rachel Lekanoff - Girls* in the Forest Onsite Coordinator
Presentation slides
Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Application Flyer 2023
Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska Brochure 2023
Inspiring Girls* Expeditions Alaska Website
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Summer Youth Practicum Website
Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Summer Youth Practicum Flyer
Overview of the State of Alaska Community Resilience Programs and Resources
December 14, 2022
Sally Russell Cox, with the State of Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs, highlighted online tools, databases, and resources from the Community Resilience Program. These Alaska-relevant resources are available, and frequently updated, to aid climate adaptation planning, community development and local decision-making.
Presenters
Sally Russell Cox - Community Resilience Programs Manager
Introduction slides
Presentation slides
State of Alaska Community Online Database
An Overview of Grantstation Online
November 16, 2022
As Tribes and communities across Alaska respond to climate impacts and identify adaptation action they want to pursue during planning, they also express the need to gain more proposal writing skills or learn more about funding. In this session we will walk through Grantstation, an online membership-based resource that has tools and information for developing grant proposals, creating funding strategies, and finding training opportunities or project funding.
Presenters
David Gates - GrantStation Online Education Specialist
Introducing the Tribal Climate Adaptation Online Guidebook
October 12, 2022
This session highlights the online version of Tribal Climate Adaptation Guidebook. This nationally-focused Guidebook is designed to support Tribal Nations and Tribal adaptation professionals in their climate resilience planning work. It builds on the foundation of ongoing climate adaptation-related work already happening by Tribal Nations across the US, provides a framework for climate change adaptation planning in the context of Tribal priorities, and directly considers the unique issues facing Indigenous communities. The Guidebook is designed to support Tribes’ efforts to proactively adapt to climate change and thrive for generations to come.
Presenters
Sascha Petersen, Founder and Director of Adaptation International
Introduction slides
Presentation slides
Tribal Climate Adaptation Guidebook (Online, PDF)
Updates from the White House: Indigenous Knowledge in Federal Decision-Making
September 14, 2022
Presenter Haley Case-Scott, Policy Assistant with the Office of Science and Technology Policy provides an update on the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Council on Environmental Quality's efforts to develop Federal Guidance for elevating Indigenous Knowledge in Federal Decision-Making. This information session goes over the White House Memorandum on Indigenous Knowledge and Federal Decision-Making and provide more details on the White House's past and upcoming engagement opportunities on the forthcoming Guidance.
Presenters
Haley Case-Scott, Policy Assistant with the Office of Science and Technology Policy
StoryMap on Insights from Coastal Arctic Indigenous Observers
August 18, 2022
This presentation covered UAF Geoscience Master's Graduate Roberta Glenn's StoryMap on Insights from Coastal Arctic Indigenous Observers. This storymap aims to summarize recent themes in Arctic observing from five Alaska communities which are part of the Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub. Recent themes include warmer temperatures, changing winds, coastal storms, sea ice change and subsistence changes.
Presenters
Roberta Glenn, Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub
Donna Hauser, Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub
Introduction Slides
StoryMap Presentation
Insights from Coastal Arctic Indigenous Observers StoryMap
AAOKH Website
Getting to Know the 30 X 30 Initiative: Alaska and the Nation
June 22, 2022
This session introduces the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS), the host for three additional Alaska Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison positions that will be working in partnership with the Alaska Tribal Resilience Learning Network (AK TRLN). The NAFWS executive director provides an overview of the 30 x 30 initiative, opportunities to learn more about it, and ways to get involved. The Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island, Tribal Government shares how they are utilizing this initiative to strengthen protections for key areas of concern important to the community.
Presenters
Justin Leon, Alaska Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison, NAFWS
Julie Thorstenson, Executive Director, NAFWS
Lauren Divine, Director, ACSPI
Getting to Know 30X30 Presentation Slides
2021 America the Beautiful Report
NAFWS Funding Opportunities
PRIME Initiative
Marine Sanctuary Nomination
Native Village of Unalakleet Drone Team: Developing Community Drone Capacity
April 20, 2022
The Native Village of Unalakleet is partnering with UAF and the Model Forest Policy Program to build a team of Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) pilots, drone pilots, in this Bering Strait hub community. These pilots are trained to conduct infrastructure inspections and emergency response actions in support of a local or regional crisis. Join the team to learn more about their journey, challenges, successes, and possible future for UAS in Tribal communities in the Norton Sound and beyond.
Presenters: John Henry (Native Village of Unalakleet - Deputy Director), Jessica Garron (AK CASC - Deputy Director), Margaret Hall (Model Forest Policy Program - Associate Director)
Developing Community Drone Capacity Presentation Slides
Indian Affairs - Using Geospatial Software in Indian Country
BIA Geospatial Training
Elevating Ancestral Practices: Tribal Wellness in Climate Adaptation Training Summary
March 16, 2022
This session reported on the training Elevating Ancestral Practices: Tribal Wellness in Climate Adaptation that highlighted the importance of including traditional practices as strategies to address climate impacts in order to promote strength, resilience and adaptation in tribal communities.
Presenters: Shasta Gaughen, LaVerne Demientieff, Meda DeWitt
Elevating Ancestral Practices: Tribal Wellness in Climate Adaptation Training Summary
Tribal Wellness Information Session Slides
Meda DeWitt Presentation Recording
Status of Tribes and Climate Change (STACC) Report
Planting the Seeds Handout
Tribal Climate Health Project
Swinomish Tribe (I-BRACE)
Pala Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
Pala Climate Change Adaptation Plan
AK TRLN Event: Indigenous Food Security and Observing Arctic Change
February 2, 2022
This information session highlighted the work of the Food Security Working Group (FSWG) hosted at the International Arctic Research Center that is supporting the development of a coordinated roadmap for Arctic observing that centers the perspectives of Arctic Indigenous Peoples.
Presenters: Craig Chythlook, Margaret Rudolf, and Victoria Buschman
FSWG Presentation Slides
FSWG Website
Arctic Council - PAME & CAFF
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction
Convention on Biological Diversity
Indigenous Sentinals Network
SNAP Tools: Easy Access to Climate Data for Tribal Adaptation Planning
December 15, 2021
Tribal planning efforts require access to both traditional knowledge from years on the land, as well as projections of future change specific to areas of interest. Projections can often be both broad, and complex, but online tools from the Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning (SNAP) provide easy access to data for all audiences. Join presenters from SNAP and from community partners to learn about how these tools can be used, and where to go to learn more about them.
Presenters: Shayla Shaishnikof, Nancy Fresco, Mike DeLue
SNAP Presentation Slides
SNAP Tools
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Assessment Reports Archive
NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer
AK TRLN Berry Listening Session
December 9, 2021
The changing climate is influencing Alaska’s berries in many ways and many climate adaptation plans and risk assessments identify changes in berries as a concern. However, the observations of changes are often not shared broadly, and the scientific information on how berries are changing is hard to find. This interactive session included 1) a brief overview of some of the changes being observed in our berry species and 2) and an opportunity to discuss berry observations, concerns, and ideas important to your community.
This discussion is part of a series of listening sessions on berries hosted by the Alaska CASC Tribal Resilience Learning Network and Alaska’s Berry Future project aimed at identification of research gaps and priorities to support communities who are interested in berry resources.
Presenters: Katie Spellman, Christa Mulder
Tanana Chiefs Conference: Village and Regional Adaptation in ACTION
November 22, 2021
The Alaska Tribal Resilience Learning Network held a learning network event on Monday, November 22nd. Presenters from Tanana Chiefs Conference presented on their Tribal Climate Resilience grant, Mainstreaming Climate Change Resilience in Village Planning. The presentation also highlighted both village adaptation priorities and regional responses which support climate adaptation.
Presenters: Barrett Ristroph, Debra Lynne, Nathan Elswick
Learning Network Introduction Slides
Tanana Chiefs Conference: Mainstreaming Climate Change Resilience in Village Planning Slides
Welcome to the Alaska Tribal Resilience Learning Network
October 20, 2021
This session will be re-introducing the Alaska Tribal Resilience Learning Network (AK TRLN) as a resource for Alaska Native Tribes and Communities that have recently received their BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program (TCRP) awards. We will provide an overview of TCRP awards, and provide a space for those new awardees to share stories and learn from each other. This session will help inform the AK TRLN of project needs to provide future sessions based on the feedback.
Learning Network Introduction Slides
Tribal Climate Resilience Program Award Summary Slides
Tribal Climate Adaptation Handbook
BIA Tribal Climate Listening Sessions
AK Tribal Conference on Environmental Management
Tlingit & Haida Climate Change Adaptation Plan
Another Climate Report: Responsibility, A Quick Guide and Accountability
September 23, 2021
Many of our AK Indigenous People express the responsibility to family, village and broader community in the values identified by our Elders. As leaders, this responsibility relates to accountability and action. In 2019, Youth and Elders at the AK Federation of Natives passed a resolution that clearly calls out our climate crisis and the need to act. More recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) and the Status of Tribes and Climate Change (STACC) Reports were released with some significant and key messages. In this webinar, senior climate scientist Dr. John Walsh highlighted a Quick Guide to Climate reports including their purpose, how they are created, some key messages for Alaska, and how they might be used with other information in climate change adaptation work. Indigenous climate activist and creative, Princess Daazhraii Johnson, explored our individual and collective responsibility to act and the need for leadership in all arenas of governance/government to be accountable to the messages in timely climate reports and act on behalf of our children and humanity as a whole.
This is a joint webinar between the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy and the Alaska Tribal Resilience Learning Network.
Presenters: Malinda Chase (Tribal Liaison), John Walsh (IARC senior climate scientist), Princess Daazhraii Johnson (Indigenous climate activist and creative)
Related Documents & Links
Another Climate Report Slides
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
State of the Climate Report
National Climate Assessment (NCA)
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) and report
The Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report (STACC)
Required Reading: Climate Justice, Adaptation and Investing in Indigenous Power (book)
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Can I Build Here?
May 19, 2021
In rural Alaska, planning decisions about housing involve individuals, local tribal and village corporation leadership, and regional housing authorities. This Information session will explore considerations for building on permafrost in a rapidly changing environment to inform decision-makers. It will preview how past landscape changes, due to permafrost thaw, can inform us about future conditions, and how this must influence where we decide to build, what kind of housing designs we should consider, and how to maintain our homes and infrastructure.
Presenters: Malinda Chase (Tribal Liaison), Bob Bolton (AK CASC permafrost researcher), Ilya Benesch (Cold Climate Housing Research Center)
Related Documents & Links
Introduction - Can I Build Here Slides
Permafrost Slides- Bob Bolton
Cold Climate Housing Research Center Slides
Working together for the next generation
April 21, 2021
This session will focus on the significance of proactively including formal and informal learning opportunities for youth in tribal adaptation plans. This session will highlight several education opportunities that aim to build and support Indigenous youth leaders in climate adaptation and stewardship action.
Presenters: Katie Spellman (Assistant Professor in Education and Outreach, International Arctic Research Center), Roben Itchoak (Middle School Teacher, Shishmaref School, Iñupiaq raised at Siqnasuaq (Nome); Mary's Igloo tribal member), Christi Buffington (Science Education Specialist, International Arctic Research Center), Jennifer Hill (Native Youth Community Adaptation and Leadership Congress Coordinator National Conservation Training Center)
Related Documents & Links
Introduction - Working Together for the Next Generation Slides
IARC Education and Science Opportunities for Children and Youth Slides
Native Youth Community Adaptation and Leadership Congress Slides
Youth Leadership Learning Opportunities across the Nation Slides
Dirty Snow in Shishmaref Slides
Affiliated Tribes of NW Indians Website
Understanding the Difference Between a Desktop Report, Vulnerability Assessment, and Risk Assessment
March 18, 2021
In the last Pre-TRP Application session, panelists provided overviews and examples of desktop reports, vulnerability assessments, and risk assessments and discuss how these documents are used in the climate adaptation planning process.
Presenters: AlexAnna Salmon (Igiugig Village Council), Nancy Fresco (Scenarios Network for Alaska & Arctic Planning), Jeremy Littell (USGS/ Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center), Jacquelyn Overbeck (Alaska Division of Geological & Geographic Surveys Coastal Hazards Program)
Related Documents & Links
Understanding Adaptation Planning Documents Introduction Slides
Vulnerability Assessment Slides
Igiugig Desktop Report Slides
Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Slides
Igiugig Climate Change Assessment
Community flooding, erosion, and permafrost risk assessment status
Language in Climate Change Planning
March 17, 2021
In this session, panelists discuss terms used in climate change adaptation planning that will be helpful when preparing a TRP proposal.
Presenters: Jerilyn Kelly (Mayor of Quinhagak), Nikki Cooley (Diné, Co-Manager Tribes and Climate Change Program), Kristin Timm (Social Scientist, Alaska Climate Adaptation Science
Center)
Related Documents & Links
Language in Climate Change Planning Introduction Slides
Language in Climate Change Planning Presenter Slides
Highlighting examples of what the Tribal Resilience Program, (TRP) has funded in the past
March 10, 2021
In this session, panelists shared their projects and planning approaches for addressing climate change utilizing the Tribal Resilience Program funding opportunity.
Presenters: Philomena Keyes (Kotlik Tribal Resilience Coordinator), Raymond Paddock (Tlingit & Haida Environmental Coordinator)
Related Documents & Links
Introduction to the Tribal Resilience Learning Network Slides
Kotlik Presentation (Philomena Keyes)
Tlingit & Haida Presentation (Raymond Paddock)
Tlingit & Haida Climate Change Adaptation Plan
Tlingit & Haida Climate Adaptation Plan Template