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Exploring effects of climate change on Northern Plains American Indian health

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Abstract

American Indians have unique vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change because of the links among ecosystems, cultural practices, and public health, but also as a result of limited resources available to address infrastructure needs. On the Crow Reservation in south-central Montana, a Northern Plains American Indian Reservation, there are community concerns about the consequences of climate change impacts for community health and local ecosystems. Observations made by Tribal Elders about decreasing annual snowfall and milder winter temperatures over the 20th century initiated an investigation of local climate and hydrologic data by the Tribal College. The resulting analysis of meteorological data confirmed the decline in annual snowfall and an increase in frost free days. In addition, the data show a shift in precipitation from winter to early spring. The number of days exceeding 90 ˚F (32 ˚C) has doubled in the past century. Streamflow data show a long-term trend of declining discharge. Elders noted that the changes are affecting fish distribution within local streams and plant species which provide subsistence foods. Concerns about warmer summer temperatures also include heat exposure during outdoor ceremonies that involve days of fasting without food or water. Additional community concerns about the effects of climate change include increasing flood frequency and fire severity, as well as declining water quality. The authors call for local research to understand and document current effects and project future impacts as a basis for planning adaptive strategies.

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Notes

  1. The eight named Tribal Elders and two younger Tribal members who provided comments specifically for this article all agreed to the use of their names.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to the many Crow Tribal members who contributed their personal observations of changes to the Reservation’s climate, water resources and phenology over the recent decades, and particularly to Sara Young, whose initial observations inspired this work. Anne Camper (Montana State University Bozeman), David Anning (Arizona Water Science Center, US Geological Survey) and anonymous reviewers provided useful suggestions.

The work at Little Big Horn College was supported by a NSF Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement grant; Center for Native Health Partnerships’ Grant #P20MD002317 from NIH’s National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities; EPA STAR Research Assistance Agreement #FP91674401 and an EPA - National Center for Environmental Research Grant # R833706. The content is solely the authors’ responsibility; it has not been formally reviewed by the funders and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or the EPA. The EPA does not endorse any of the products mentioned.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crow Water Quality Project, Little Big Horn College, 8645 S. Weaver Drive, Crow Agency, MT, USA

    John T. Doyle

  2. Apsaalooke Water and Wastewater Authority, Crow Agency, MT, USA

    John T. Doyle

  3. Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Crow Agency, MT, USA

    John T. Doyle

  4. Crow Tribal member, Crow Reservation, MT, USA

    John T. Doyle & Margaret Hiza Redsteer

  5. US Geological Survey Flagstaff Science Campus, Flagstaff, AZ, USA

    Margaret Hiza Redsteer

  6. Little Big Horn College, 8645 S. Weaver Drive, Crow Agency, MT, 59022, USA

    Margaret J. Eggers

  7. Microbiology Department/CBE, Montana State University Bozeman, PO Box 173980, Bozeman, MT, USA

    Margaret J. Eggers

Authors
  1. John T. Doyle
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  2. Margaret Hiza Redsteer
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  3. Margaret J. Eggers
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John T. Doyle.

Additional information

This article is part of a Special Issue on “Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States: Impacts, Experiences, and Actions” edited by Julie Koppel Maldonado, Rajul E. Pandya, and Benedict J. Colombi.

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Doyle, J.T., Redsteer, M.H. & Eggers, M.J. Exploring effects of climate change on Northern Plains American Indian health. Climatic Change 120, 643–655 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0799-z

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