Mission Statement
Our Mission is to educate communities about the land ethic of food sovereignty, land restoration, and climate pollution by incorporating scientific and traditional principles.
Vision
To prepare the Navajo Nation to adapt to the changing climate, and implement strategies that will preserve and enhance natural resources and provide a resilient future for the Navajo communities by:
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Restore protect and enhance native plant and animal species and their habitats;
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Empower community through Food Sovereignty efforts;
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Educate community about climate change and ways to be more resilient through these challenges;
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Collaborate and create partnerships to confront the challenges Navajo communities face;
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Implement and enforce sustainable, long-term livestock management goals;
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Confronting polluting practices that harm Navajo communities;
Why the Navajo Nation is Planning for Climate Change and Implementing Adaptation Practices
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From aridification, tornadoes, spontaneous fires, fluctuating monsoonal patterns, and more, Navajo is on the frontlines of Climate Change.
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The Navajo people established their cultural lifeways from the earth and sky itself. The ceremonial herbs, sacred stones, wildlife, and more are important elements to the people.
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Planning for the oncoming change and practicing adaptation practices helps to reduce future risks imposed by climate change, and determine what .
Executive Summary
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​Given predictions by scientific and government entities, it is up to the people to practice diverse means to adapt to an ever-changing climate. The Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife (NNDFW) established the Climate Change Program and team to raise awareness and prepare for incoming change for the Navajo people and their environment.
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Several hours were spent visiting communities all over the reservation to present on impacts and suggested adaptive solutions for climate change.
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Along with presenting, the program distributed a climate change survey which community members were able to fill out at community events, schools, and chapter houses.
Overall, the team’s main goal was to communicate with community leaders to create the Navajo Nation’s first ever adaptation plan for climate change.
Acknowledgements
​​This project received financial support from the 2016 Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Resiliency Grant for Tribal Adaptation and Capacity Building, along with the Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. Many people participated in the development and implementation of this plan.
​The Navajo Nation would like to acknowledge contributions of the following individuals:​​
The Navajo Nation Climate Change Planning Team:
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Gloria Tom, Director, Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Carolynn Begay, Climate Change Team, Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Raylene Yazzie, Climate Change Team, Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Taylor Greene, Forest Biologist, Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Chad Smith, Zoologist, Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Aileen Hale-Chee, Administrative Service Officer, Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Vernonda Howard, Office Specialist, Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Carlee McClellan, Senior Hydrologist, Department of Water Resource ​​
Additional Contributions:
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Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, Northern Arizona University Division of Natural Resources, Navajo Nation
​​Special thanks also to the following groups and individuals for their dedicated participation:
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District Grazing Committee
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Navajo Nation Farm Board
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Navajo Nation Land Board
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Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture