North Central Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons
Kynser Wahwahsuck Bell and Janna Black
The Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons work for the Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance and in collaboration with the NC CASC across the North Central region to connect 32 Federally Recognized Tribal Nations to tools, information, and other resources for building resilience to anthropogenic climate change.
Kynser Wahwahsuck Bell is a member of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas and is a descendant of Shoshone and Sac & Fox Tribes. She received her B.S. degree in Environmental Science from Haskell Indian Nations University and her M.A. degree from the University of Kansas with a focus on nitrogen cycling in headwater streams affected by land-use change. She loves spending time outdoors with her family and being creative through sewing and arts.
Contact: kynser.wahwahsuck@colorado.edu
Janna Black, of Koyukon Athabaskan descent, from the Caribou clan, earned her M.S. in Environment, Natural Resources, and Society from University of Wyoming with a Minor in Collaborative Practice. Janna's research experience is in Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Sense of Place, Social-Ecological Systems, Land-Based Education, Resilience Building, Sustainable Farm Mgmt & Permaculture Design. In her free time, she loves spending time in the sun with her family.
Contact: janna.black@colorado.edu
- Develop climate vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans, proposals and grant applications, and implementation projects
- Connect Tribal resource managers to data, information, and tools
- Facilitate connections and partnerships between Tribes, TCU’s, researchers, and Tribal Organizations
- Support coordination of Tribal workshops, meetings, and gatherings
- Support capacity building by facilitating trainings
- Facilitate knowledge sharing between Tribes and partners
- Organize Tribal community education and youth engagement
- and so much more!
Redefining how Western researchers work with Indigenous peoples
Ethical space is a framework of engagement between Western science and traditional knowledge. Sitting down with CU Boulder Today, NC CASC's James Rattling Leaf, Sr. is excited about the university's steps toward working with Indigenous peoples.
The Tribal Climate Workshop
The Tribal Climate Workshop was a wonderful success, bringing together over 50 participants from approximately 15 tribal nations, along with representatives from tribal organizations, federal partners, and community members.
Janna Black
Ecological Drought Webinar - Available Online
NC CASC affiliates, Dr. Wynne Moss (USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center), and Shelley Crausbay (USDA Forest Service) presented in the 2024/25 National Ecological Drought Webinar Series.
New Consortium to Enhance Research Efforts for Adapting to Impacts of Climate Change in North Central Region
The University of Colorado Boulder will serve as the regional hub for a consortium of partners with the expertise needed to address issues related to wildlife, ecosystems, climate change, and conservation. As part of a new 5-year cooperative agreement...
Ulyana Horodyskyj Peña