“The impact of a changing climate on Native American people introduces special concerns that are often not discussed or considered on the broad scale when policymakers and the scientific community are thinking about climate change adaptation planning. Tribal communities still have a much closer and more intimate relationship to the cycles of nature, having studied and adapted over millennia to the specific areas the tribes call home. Concerns about fluctuations in rainfall quantity and regime are of great concern to all tribal people, especially those living in the desert Southwest and other desert regions with already depleted water sources due to ongoing severe drought conditions. Changing ecosystems due to temperature changes are already impacting tribal people who still rely on food that is hunted or foraged as a primary means of subsistence. Many tribal people rely on foods that are foraged, such as pine nuts, which are already seeing a decline due to the impact of climate change. It’s critical for the voice of Native American people to be heard and considered when policy, planning, and adaptation efforts are being implemented to ensure that the human rights of all people are protected.”