Dr. Casey Thornbrugh is a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and a geographer with a background in climate Science. Casey will speak about how Tribal Nations and Indigenous Communities have witnessed changes in the climate from time immemorial.  Anthropogenic climate change and the Climate Crisis, coupled with the impacts of colonization, pose unique challenges for Tribal Nations.  Despite these challenges, Tribal Nations are leading the way in climate change adaptation planning and resilience.  This talk will provide an overview of climate change impacts and adaptation by Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities with an emphasis on the East Coast and coastal communities. Casey will then discuss opportunities to learn from Indigenous climate change adaptation while maintaining respect for Indigenous knowledge and Tribal sovereignty.

Tribal Nations: leading the way in climate change adaptation, planning and resilience is part of the Natural Heritage of Fairhaven series, a collaboration between the Millicent Library, the UUSF and Climate Reality MA SouthCoast. The Natural Heritage of Fairhaven Series offers free and ongoing programming exploring the rich connections between landscape, ecology, and culture in our coastal community. Through talks on biology, history, art, and more, the series aims to deepen our understanding and appreciation for the natural beauty of our town.

Please note: this program is held in the UU Auditorium, located across from the library at 102 Green Street.