September 2013

Strategic Plan Purpose Serve as an early step towards addressing the impacts of climate change on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Improve the Tribal community and its lands resiliency by effectively informing the Tribes. Initiate the development of collectively beneficial impact mitigation and adaptation solutions.

Consideration “Indigenous people of the world have a special moral stature on this issue [of climate change] and may have a special role to play in coming together to advocate for action.” - Salish-Pend d'Oreille Culture Committee

Acknowledgements Special thanks to Tribal elders and the Tribal Council Project Team Planning Committee The Round Table of the Crown of the Continent Adaptive management initiative through the Kresge foundation and the Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative. Other Contributors

Salish and Pend d’Oreilles Tribes Included Kalispel & Spokane Indians Hunted, fished, harvested Leaders governed by consensus Traded with Nez Perce Aboriginal Territories of the Salish & Pend d'Oreille People courtesy of CSKT SPCC and Natural Resource’s GIS Department

Ksanka Band of Kootenai Indians Numbered over 10,000 members Moved seasonally Fished, hunted, harvested roots Traded with Shoshone, Nez Perce, and Blackfeet Aboriginal Territory of the Ksanka Band of Kootenai Indians map courtesy of NRD and Kootenai Culture Committee

Flathead Reservation – Western Montana – million acres – 790,000 acres owned by Tribes & members Montana Reservation Map by Montana Office of Tourism

Tribal Government Ten member Tribal Council Represents the Arlee, Dixon, Elmo, Hot Springs, Pablo, Polson, Ronan, and St. Ignatius districts Employs nearly 1,400 people Camel, J. (2012). Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Economic Development Facts at a Glance. CSKT Economic Development Office

Flathead Reservation Population 2010 population was 28,359 people Approximately 7,900 enrolled tribal members – 5,300 members live on reservation – 2,600 members live off reservation Camel, J. (2012). Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Economic Development Facts at a Glance. CSKT Economic Development Office Bureau, U. S. (2010). Flathead County, Montana. Retrieved 2013, from American Fact Finder: Independent Record. (2011, March 28). Census shows growth at 4 Montana reservations. Helena, MT, United States. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from

Cultural Considerations Cultural traditions rely on abundant populations of native fish and wildlife, healthy plant communities, clean air and water. River Honoring, photo by Conrad Durglo

Why the Tribes are Planning Climate change is expected to impact the Flathead Reservation. These impacts may substantially affect ways of life that have been at the core of Tribal culture for generations. As such, it merits special focus, especially related to the connection between traditions and issues of community resilience and sovereignty.

Impacts on the Tribes Many cultural resources are non-renewable resources. They can be one day or thousands of years old. Their destruction is a gross violation of everything we value. -Flathead Culture Committee

Tribal Elder Observations “I do not know when the last time the lake completely froze. It has been awhile since it did that. I do not know if we will ever see that again.” - Ignace Couture Ignace Couture, photo by Frank Tyro

Tribal Elder Observations “As an Indian people we get concerned especially for the higher elevation plants that we use for medicine - not only for the plants but for the animals”. - Mike Durglo Sr. Mike Durglo Sr., photo by Frank Tyro

Tribal Elder Observations “One of the things my dad always did was when we took a drink out of the creek we always put some [water] back. You took a drink then you threw some [water] on the plants or somewhere.” - Sadie Saloway Sadie Saloway., photo by Frank Tyro

Tribal Elder Observations “The weather [may bring a] big change and then maybe the world will go back the other way.” - Stephen SmallSalmon Stephen SmallSalmon., photo by Frank Tyro

Tribal Elder Observations “The elders would sit down and they would tell stories. They would talk about certain things that were coming…One day this earth is going to become warm….The snow and ice is going to melt in the north and the oceans are going to fill up…I am witnessing this today.” - Patrick Pierre Patrick Pierre, photo by Frank Tyro

Tribal Elder Observations “The old people used to say that in the winter when it got cold you could hear the trees pop, it sounded like a rifle shot, then the coyote stories could come out, then in the spring when you hear the first thunder then that when you put them away.” - Louie Adams Louie Adams, photo by Frank Tyro

Methodology Meetings, trainings, and planning sessions Local impact assessments completed by Tribal departments and local organizations – Adaptation Planning Spreadsheet and Matrix Adaption Planning Tool used by CSKT

Planning Sectors 3.1 Forestry 3.2 Land 3.3 Fish 3.4 Wildlife 3.5 Water 3.6 Air Quality 3.7 Infrastructure 3.8 People 3.9 Culture Flathead Reservation, photo by Roian Matt

Forestry Focus CSKT forestland timber, rangeland (fire), interior grass, shrub, and forb vegetation in four fire regimes types. – Non-Lethal – Mixed – Lethal – Timberline Flathead Reservation Fire Regimes, figure by John Holub, GIS Analyst, CSKT Division of Forestry

Forestry Assessment Priorities: – Non-Lethal Fire Regimes is low – Mixed Fire Regimes is medium – Lethal Fire Regimes is high – Timberline Fire Regimes is medium Timeframe: years

Forestry Goals Responsible: Forestry Department Purpose: Ensure the health of the forest through effective resource planning and management. Goals Summary: – Updated, revise, develop, and/or implement plans – Conduct assessments and monitoring

Land Focus Native plant community trends and ecological sites, including the monitoring and managing noxious weeds. Flathead Reservation, photo by Roian Matt

Land Assessment Priorities: – Plants is medium – Noxious weeds is medium – Agriculture is medium Timeframe: years Flathead Reservation, photo by Roian Matt

Land Goals Responsible: Tribal Lands Department Purpose: Ensure the health of soils, plants, and water sources through research and management. Goals – Evaluate soil health, crop requirements, and irrigation water sources to support shifting to alternative crops. – Engage in practices to promote more vigorous native plant communities.

Fish Focus Fish and fish habitat with the intent to assess the benefits of healthy functioning fish habitat versus degraded habits in the context of climate change. Bodies of water and substrate required for fish spawning, breeding, feeding, and growth which are located on and near the Reservation.

Fish Assessment Priority: – Fish is high – Fish habitat is high Timeframe: 0-10 years Bull Trout, photo release by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library as public domain

Fish Goals Responsible: Natural Resources Department - Fish Purpose: Ensure the health of fish through improved planning and use of ecological principles. Goal: – Improve integration of ecological principles into tribal agricultural leases that negatively affect native trout.

Wildlife Focus Terrestrial wildlife species (birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles) and their habitats. Grasslands, agricultural lands, rangelands, wetland riparian areas, mountain forests, and alpine habitats. Swan, photo by David Nall

Wildlife Assessment Priorities: – Forested habitat is low – Wetland habitat is high – Grassland habitat is medium – Alpine habitat is medium – Riparian habitat is low – Agricultural habitat is medium Timeframe: 0-10 years

Wildlife Goals Responsible: Natural Resources Department - Wildlife Management Program Purpose: Ensure the health of wildlife through improved research and planning. Goal: – Anticipate and plan for climate change impacts upon each species.

Water Focus Quality and quantity of groundwater and surface water. Western Montana west of the continental divide, north to the Flathead River headwater streams up into Canada, and west to the Columbia River Basin Flathead Lake, photo by David Nall

Water Assessment Priorities: – Water quality is high – Water quantity is high Timeframe: 0-10 years Stream Measurements at Post Creek, photo by W. Keenan

Water Goals Responsible: Natural Resources Department – Division of Water Purpose: Ensure the health of and access to water through improved planning and management. Goal: – Improve water resources management through research, planning, and mapping.

Air Quality Focus Impacts to health caused by increases in pollutants from climate change within the exterior boundaries of the Reservation. Planning areas include: – Non-Attainment Polson – Non-Attainment Ronan – Prevention of Significant Deterioration

Air Quality Assessment Priorities: – Non-Attainment Polson is medium – Non-Attainment Ronan is medium – Prevention of Significant Deterioration is medium Timeframe: 0-25 years

Air Quality Goals Responsible: Natural Resources Department – Air Purpose: Ensure the quality of air through improved investigation and management. Goal: – Monitor air quality changes through inventories and assessments.

Infrastructure Focus Housing: 28 water and/or waste water systems and over 500 units of affordable housing owned by the Tribes Power: Customers on and near the Flathead Reservation

Infrastructure Assessment Priorities: – Housing is low – Power is low Timeframe: 0-20 years Felsman duplex, photo by CSKT Housing Authority

Infrastructure Goals Responsible: Salish & Kootenai Housing Authority and Mission Valley Power Purpose: Ensure access to housing and power through research and long-range planning. Goals Summaries: – Housing – Investigate new building materials and alternative water and waste water systems – Power - Investigate and adopt new power delivery methods continuously

People Focus Social Services - emergency welfare services for Tribal people Safety - work environments, tribal facilities, tribal food services, and domestic animal control Tribal Health and Human Resources - community healthcare and transportation

People Assessment Priorities: – Social Services ranges from low to high – Safety is medium – Tribal Health is medium – Human Resources is low Timeframe: years

People Goals Responsible: Social Services, Office of Administrative Services, Tribal Health & Human Services, and Department of Human Resources Development Purpose: Ensure the health and safety of people through improved planning, coordination, and system developments.

People Goals Goals Summaries: – Social Services – Ensure the wellbeing of the community’s most vulnerable populations – Safety – Engage in collaboration, planning, and resource development to meet safety needs – Health and Human Resources – Improve the healthcare and transportation systems

Cultural Focus Salish, Pend d’Oreille, and Kootenai people Understand the full meaning of the expected impacts of climate change to the Tribes - including the Tribes cultural survival Geographical focus is the entire Reservation, as well as all aboriginal territories both east and west of the Continental Divide

Cultural Assessment Priority: – Culture is high Timeframe: years – Well beyond for many generations to come Flathead Reservation, photo by Roian Matt

Cultural Goals Responsible: Salish-Pend d'Oreille Culture Committee, Kootenai Culture Committee, and Historic Preservation/ Cultural Preservation Department Purpose: Ensure cultural preservation through education and advocacy. Goal: – Educate people about climate change, its cultural import, and the need to speak out for action (local, national, international) to minimize its severity.

Next Steps Implementation of plan Establish and maintain a Climate Change Oversight Committee. – Monitor and measure progress – Review basic assumptions – Continue to research Traditional Ecological Knowledge – Incorporate into guiding documents – Update regularly – Conduct education and outreach activities

Contact Information Michael Durglo Jr. Division of Environmental Protection Manager Climate Change Planning Coordinator P.O. Box 278 Pablo, MT Main Street, Polson, MT Phone: (406) ext Cell: (406)