Fiscal Pathways

The fiscal pathways for federal funding of Tribal climate adaptation and mitigation are complex and bureaucratic, and significant obstacles exist for Tribes and rural Indigenous peoples in accessing and effectively implementing these funds. The fiscal pathways team assessed available funding and technical assistance options, as well as the effectiveness of government programs in assisting Tribes in Alaska with climate resilience. The project also identifiied strategies for increasing the effectiveness of funding and assistance options and develop reciprocal networks of information exchange and engagement. A case study for this project was conducted in the Bristol Bay region, where PI Adelheid Herrmann has existing relationships and continues to build trusted partnerships among researchers, practitioners, regional non-profits, communities, and Tribes. We have interviewed key informants, and planned and implemented a workshop in collaboration with Alaska Conservation Foundation, Bristol Bay Native Association in the Bristol Bay Region. The goal of the workshop was to encourage Tribal participants from the region to use a project accelerator model to develop proposals that leveraged nature-based solutions while simultaneously focusing on strategies for obtaining funding for future implementation. The workshop was designed for participants to share and learn from real-world experiences across the region. We are creating a Story Map with highlights of what we learned in this research, which will be available on this website.