Climate Change Threatens Way of Life for Native American Tribes in Pacific Northwest
The New York Times••nation
Key Points:
- Tribal nations in the Pacific Northwest have long relied on water for spirituality and sustenance, but climate change is now causing rising sea levels and severe flooding that threaten their coastal communities.
- Recent floods in Washington State forced 100,000 people to evacuate, prompted 600 rescues, and resulted in at least one death, with Indigenous fishing tribes among the hardest hit.
- Scott Schuyler, an elder of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, evacuated his home in a 100-year floodplain, highlighting the increasing risks faced by tribal members living in vulnerable areas.
- Some residents, like Schuyler’s mother, chose to stay despite rising waters, illustrating the difficult decisions faced by those living in flood-prone regions.
