Description:

Indigenous knowledge systems are robust, place-based, and longitudinally-deep sets of observations and practices about how the world works that are based on lived experiences and transmitted across generations. Earth system sciences can help explain and predict the broader physical processes behind these observations for an overall improved understanding of climate change and weather extremes. Thus, Indigenous and Earth system science collaborations lead to novel insights and solutions to complex problems not otherwise achievable.  Moreover, by bringing Indigenous and Earth sciences together, Native students and scientists who are severely underrepresented in Earth sciences can recognize their full selves as both Western-trained scientists and cultural practitioners without sacrificing one identity for the other. Collaborations among Indigenous and Earth scientists must be formed through relationships of trust that acknowledge the ongoing and historical colonial legacies of Earth sciences. Collaborations between Indigenous and Earth sciences are changing the paradigm of how we do science that translates into actions, and is a paradigm that can be widely adopted to all forms of actionable science.

The session will highlight research and experiences that bring together examples of Indigenous and Earth Science collaborations that are justice-centered and engaged with climate adaptation and resiliency, intergenerational collaborations, include practices for Indigenous data sovereignty, co-governance approaches, advance science, and are driven by culturally-appropriate methodologies and indicators for informing adaptation decisions. 

This session will connect with a Presidential Session on the same theme, and we invite you to submit proposals for presentations that touch on any elements of collaboration between Indigenous and Earth sciences, including case studies, conceptual frameworks, and other contributions.