Addressing Tribal Risk Concerns: Application of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Brenda Brandon TOSNAC Coordinator Technical Outreach Services for Native American Communities

TOSNAC Program  Hazardous Substance Research Centers –Outreachwww.hsrc.org  Haskell Indian Nations University –Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center  Kansas State University –Center for Hazardous Substance Research –  Kansas University –Center of Indigenous Nations Studies –

Methods of Implementing Technical Support  Educational Format - Presentations and Written Materials - Presentations and Written Materials - Public Meetings & Focused Work Groups - Public Meetings & Focused Work Groups  Facilitating Stakeholder Coordination  Scientific Opinions -Document Review and Comments -Document Review and Comments

Outline  Traditional Ecological Knowledge  Cultural Risk Concerns at Tribal Mine Sites  Evaluation of Western Scientific Processes- addressing risk concerns  Integration of Science and TEK –long-term risk management within Tribal communities

Traditional Ecological Knowledge  Collective knowledge acquired by a Tribe as a result of the people’s interaction with the environment and occupation of a region over many generations  Applied to resource management decision-making structures –Fisheries, wildlife, fire and water resource –Agriculture and mining projects –Environmental impact statements, health studies

Western Science TEK  One track thinking  Focus on physical concerns  Values based on scientific measures  Man is treated separate from environment  Ethics- separate component  Use of quantitative interpretation to analyze and communicate risk  Holistic thinking  Priorities encompass all levels of reality  Values based on survival of Culture  Man is a component of the environment  Ethics are incorporated into tradition  Communication of concerns typically have qualitative focus

Effect of X in Biota Effect of X in Air Effect of X in Water Effect of X in Soils Study of Contaminants in Environmental Systems- Impact of Contaminants in Specific Media

Study of Contaminants for Cleanup at Superfund Mine Sites Water Air Biota Soils Ore TerrestrialAquatic Surface Ground water Sediment

Effect of X in Biota Effect of X in Air Effect of X in Water Effect of X in Soils Integrating Science and TEK Understanding Impact of Contaminants

Quality of Life and Understanding Cultural Risk Communication  Walking In Balance Teaching, Learning, Knowing, Living in Harmony with the Circle of Life –Physical –Mental –Psychological / Emotional –Spiritual

Environmental Impact and Cultural Risk Considerations Sustainability Social Enhancement Economic Opportunity Health & Environment Natural/Cultural Resources Environmental Justice

Natural Resource Preservation Central to Tribal Culture  Water quality/quantity  Land protection and management  Biota– plants, animals, ecosystems  Other cultural resources – archeological, historical, ceremonial, recreational, fishing, hunting and gathering sites

Conventional Risk Assessment Process  Tool used to make decisions- to protect human health to protect human health  Involves collecting data - type of hazard - toxicity of contaminant - exposure to contaminant  Involves calculating potential risk to exposure (risk characterization) (risk characterization)

Hazard Identification - probability - severity Fate and Transport - contamination of media, - contamination of resources Risk Characterizatio n Ecological Exposure Human Exposure Cultural Exposure Ecological toxicity Human toxicity Cultural toxicity Art and Science of Risk Characterization

Hazard Identification - probability - severity Fate and Transport - contamination of media, - contamination of resources Risk Characterization Ecological Exposure Human Exposure Cultural Exposure Ecological toxicity Human toxicity Cultural toxicity Holistic Concept of Risk Characterization

Hazard Identification - probability - severity Fate and Transport - contamination of media, - contamination of resources Risk Characterization Ecological Exposure Human Exposure Cultural Exposure Ecological toxicity Human toxicity Cultural toxicity Indigenous Concept of Risk Characterization

TEK Teaches us about Risk Considerations  Aspects of Contaminants  Contaminant transport  Exposure- contact, eating, breathing  Affect of contaminant- health, environment and culture  Sensitive populations- infants, children, pregnant women, elderly, and subsistence hunters, fishermen and gatherers

Expression of Culture Tribal Specific Unique to Tribal Identity Reflects close relationship with natural environment

Tribal Specific Risk Considerations  Subsistence living intake level considerations  Culturally significant sites, plants and animals  Traditional ceremonial & medicinal practices  Ecosystem Balance –Ecological constitution of environment, including human and spiritual aspects

Subsistence lifestyles result in 10 to 100 times more exposure than urban lifestyles (Harper, 2001). Drinking Water 2 liters per day 4+ liters per day Fish Ingestion 20 pounds/yr pounds/yr Game, plants gardening pounds/yr Duration of exposure 30 years 70 years (+ generations) Exposure Factor Urban Subsistence Frequency of exposure 180 days/year 365 days/year Cultural Activities NO YES Examples of Exposure Factors

Environmental Laws Tribal EJ Lens Natural Resources Social & Economic Env’t & Health Sustainability Defining Tribal Environmental Justice Concerns Relative to Preservation of Cultural Lifestyles and Maintenance of TEK (practices, activities)

Communication Dynamics: Addressing Tribal Cultural Risk Concerns  Human health is critical  Tribes consider a much broader range of environmental effects and risks  Added levels of Tribal cultural, social, and historical relations to land  Calls for effective communication between agencies and Tribes –Government to Government –Community Involvement

Risk Considerations  Environmental Justice considerations- multiple sources of contaminants  Multiple contaminants and complex environmental and biological systems  Bioaccumulation  Subsistence Lifestyle considerations  Cumulative Risk- including interactions amongst and interferences between heavy metals

Bioaccumulation  Many Metals are known to accumulate up the food chain –Soil/water –Microorganisms –Insects –Small Fish –Predatory fish/birds/mammals –Senior food chain animals - Man

Bioaccumulation- Specific to each Ecosystem and Relationship to it

Selenium – Impact to Biota One metal, one set of impacts  Mammals  Chronic Effects –Hair Loss –Hoof Damage –Poor Reproductive Function –Copper Deficiency  Acute Effects –Lung damage –Heart damage  Birds  Chronic effects –Poor Egg Hatchability –Poor growth –Poor feather growth  Fish  Bioaccumulation of high concentrations in liver, muscle, and eggs  Primary effects are poor reproduction  Secondary concern would be additional bioaccumulation further up the food chain

Breathing  Degree to which metal occur in the air is dependent on its form –Some forms of metals vaporize more easily –Small particle size allows particulates to be dispersed more easily (dusts)  Burning metal contaminated materials –Inhaling contaminated smoke –Trees and other plants grown on contaminated sites may accumulate metals  Boiling contaminated waters –Inhaling contaminated steam  Aluminum, Beryllium, Cobalt, Manganese*

Unique Respiratory Exposure Potential  Anything that could result in increased breathing of metal vapor or contaminated dusts –Heavy exercise in areas of high contamination –Smoking metal contaminated materials –Burning metal contaminated materials in enclosed areas

Ingestion - water  Surface Water  Groundwater  Metal concentrations dependent upon –Contamination rate –pH –Water flow rates –Concentrations of other minerals

Methyl Mercury Cycle

Ingestion - plants  Plants can accumulate a variety of metals –Dependent upon soil availability/solubility  pH  Metal form  Exchange capacity  Organic matter  Roots typically higher levels than leaves or fruits –Arsenic, Cadmium, Manganese, Nickel, Uranium

Ingestion Risks  In contaminated areas –Hand to mouth exposure  Field work  Hunting – gathering –Plants and root crops  Surface soil contamination

Exposure Through Cultural Activities and Practices  Traditional Practices –Recreation- fishing, boating, swimming –Gathering material –Preparing harvest –Crafts and material manipulation  Ceremonial Practices  Medicinal Practices

Ingestion - meats  All meat tissues have metal concentrations  Meats from contamination areas may be higher than non-contaminated sites  Contaminated Animal tissues –Highest metal content usually in the kidney/liver –Muscle and fat are also high for some metals –Arsenic, Selenium, Thallium, Uranium, vanadium, and zinc

Unique Ingestion Exposure  Ingestion of highly contaminated animal tissues  Contaminated medicinal or ceremonial plants

Exposure Summary  There are numerous toxins and ways to be exposed  Most exposure routes are common  Some routes are unique to a specific custom, tradition and/or place  TEK provides foundation for understanding, communicating and managing cultural risk concerns

Elements of Tribal Risk Management Model  Background research-oral and written history, cultural and ecological resource applicability, archeology, scientific records  Examination - current state environment  Explicit communication of scientific information, incorporates traditional cultural and ecological knowledge into decisions

Tribal Community Involvement in Risk Communication  Tribal Council  Tribal Environmental & Natural Resources Natural Resources  Departmental staff -health, water, housing -health, water, housing  Locally impacted community members community members  Cultural Committee Members, Elders and Youth

Traditional Ecological Knowledge Provides foundation for development of sound community-based risk management practices within Tribal community for use over many generations

Value of Employing Risk Assessment and Risk Management  Assess impact of proposed environmental action, including cleanup  Assess impact of environmental hazard and consider cumulative risks  Develop risk reduction strategies  Contribute to development of Tribal Comprehensive Environmental Plan  Community involvement in environmental decision-making processes

Technical Outreach Services for Native American Communities (TOSNAC) Toll Free 1(866)