![The Jamestown S'Kallam Tribal campus The Jamestown S'Kallam Tribal campus](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20161228215407im_/https://toolkit.climate.gov/sites/default/files/styles/splash_image/public/jamestown-2.jpg?itok=CpD7FNCf)
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Plans for Change on the Olympic Peninsula
Climate stressors and other impacts
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe resides on the northeastern portion of the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington. The Tribe is made up of nearly 600 members, with close to 300 living in the area. Historically, the Jamestown S’Klallam have adapted to both climatic changes as well as radical cultural changes brought on by colonization. In more recent years, the Tribe has identified climate change as a major concern for their community.
Sea level rise threatens important coastal areas such as Sequim and Discovery Bays, shellfish gathering along local beaches, and transportation infrastructure and safety. Many roads and buildings could be flooded or damaged by higher ocean waters. Ecosystem changes that will impact culturally important species are another major concern for the Tribe—the Jamestown S’Klallam rely on many plants and animals for their community health. Salmon and shellfish are integral parts of peoples’ dietary and cultural health. Western redcedar is one of many species used to make baskets, and is also the medium for carving, canoe-building, and other important traditions. Changes in temperature and seasonality of water could stress these and other species. As climate conditions change, species’ ranges may shift. Without access to these cornerstones of their culture, the Jamestown community would suffer. Community health relies on the ongoing relationship with animals and plants, both on land and at sea.
Planning for change
To better understand the challenges facing the Tribe, and to promote the continued resiliency of their community, the Tribe prepared a Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan. To develop the Plan, the Tribe worked with support from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (IGAP) grant, and in partnership with Adaptation International, a climate change consulting firm, and Washington Sea Grant, a collaborative project between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Washington.
The Plan focuses on identifying community adaptation priorities and concerns, and creating a course of action to address them. For example, sea level rise is such a serious concern for the community that the Adaptation Plan focuses on developing maps of projected changes. Without the ability to stop climate impacts, the Tribe must focus on its capacity to prepare for changes. Planning for future challenges and generations will promote resiliency in the community. While tribes in the Northwest are largely not responsible for causes of climate change, the Jamestown S’Klallam are taking responsibility for their community’s health and well-being.
Looking forward
The Plan states that “preparing for, or adapting to, the impacts of climate change is not an outcome, but a process.” This process is ongoing for the Jamestown S’Klallam community—climate impacts will continue to degrade their homelands and pose threats to precious species such as salmon and cedar. Like all Native communities in the Northwest, the Jamestown S’Klallam face an uncertain future in addressing climate change. Taking count of community strengths, anticipating future impacts, thinking about what is important to the community, preparing for challenges ahead: these are the things that will help to keep the Jamestown S’Klallam community resilient.
This image shows an aerial view of a portion of the Olympic Peninsula—the northwest part of the state of Washington—within the interactive Climate Explorer tool. The three areas marked in light blue show the extent of the Jamestown S'Klallam Reservation. Click the image to open the Climate Explorer in a new window. Explore climate stressors and people and assets impacted on your own by activating various map layers, or follow the suggestions below.
- Make the BIA Indian Lands layer almost transparent (drag the horizontal bar below the layer's label to the left) so you can see the tribe's lands. Zoom and pan to get a good view of what is on the land.
This reservation is not a residential area. Rather, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Center is on the tribe's limited land area. The center has administrative offices, health and dental clinics for the tribe's people, and a retail center that provides income for the tribe. About half of the tribal members live in nearby towns, and some of them gather traditional foods in bays and along shores in the region.
- Turn on the Inundation from Sea Level Rise (1ft) layer and click the "i" symbol to check the map's legend. Sequentially turn on the higher Sea Level Rise layers to visualize the areas that are threatened by sea level rise.
- Based on the text above and available map layers, does it seem that any other climate stressors have the potential to impact the Jamestown S'Klallum people?
- Based on the map data, what resilience-building steps might the Jamestown S'Klallum consider to protect their people, buildings, and economy?