The Schitsu’umsh people (Coeur d’Alene Tribe of Idaho) have an intimate relationship with their landscape and a rich knowledge of how to interact with the environment in a way that benefits human, plant, and animal communities alike. Such knowledge and practices can provide valuable insight as to how tribal and non-tribal resource managers, communities, and governments can best respond to the effects of a changing climate.

This project was a pilot effort to collect and translate indigenous knowledge and practices into shareable formats. Researchers developed documents, images, lesson plans, and innovative, interactive 3-D virtual reality simulations that effectively convey Schitsu’umsh knowledge and practices and supply recommendations for how they can be integrated with scientific knowledge during decision-making processes. These products can be modified and expanded by other tribal and non-tribal communities seeking to improve their climate change decision making by incorporating traditional ecological knowledge.

The project was undertaken collectively by the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, the National Climate Adaptation Science Center, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, and the University of Idaho’s Northwest Knowledge Network. It was jointly supported by the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center and the National Climate Adaptation Science Center.