The Southwest Region, Western Region and Navajo Region together serve 68 Tribes through 26 local BIA agencies. Uniquely, the Navajo Region serves only the Navajo Nation through its 5 local BIA agencies and Regional Office. Droughts in the Southwest have contributed to declines in traditional Indigenous staple foods, including acorns, corn, and pine nuts. Drought and increasing heat intensify the arid conditions of reservations where the United States restricted some Tribal nations in the southwest to the driest portions of their traditional homelands. Navajo elders tell of the increasingly arid conditions over the last half of the 20th century that contributed to declines in culturally significant crops, the flow of specific water springs and seeps, and wildlife populations, such as eagles. Projected reductions in water supply reliability, coupled with water agreements that involve selling or leasing tribal water to neighboring communities, could place Tribal water supplies at risk during severe shortages (NCA4, Ch. 25).
Southwest: Resources
- Southwest Regional Map (bia.gov)
- Southwest Tribal Fact Sheet (bia.gov)
Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) Regional Resources
- North Central CASC Host University: University of Colorado (colorado.edu)
- North Central CASC Projects (cascprojects.org)
- North Central CASC (usgs.gov)
- South Central CASC Host University: University of Oklahoma (ou.edu)
- South Central CASC (southcentralclimate.org)
- South Central CASC Projects (cascprojects.org)
- South Central CASC (usgs.gov)
Organization Resources
- Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance (tribalwateralliance.org)
U.S. Department of the Interior Resources
- Colorado River Basin ASIST (usgs.gov)
Southwest: Bureau of Indian Affairs
Connect with the BIA Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience Regional Coordinator:
Shaina Tallas
Regional Coordinator
Email: shaina.tallas@bia.gov
Phone: (505) 917-4087
Southwest: Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison
Tribes in the BIA Southwest region living in the state of Colorado are served by the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, partnering with Great Plains Tribal Water Alliance.
Kynser Wahwahsuck
Senior Liaison
Email: Kynser.Wahwahsuck@colorado.edu
Phone: (913) 704-5690Janna Black
Assistant Liaison
Email: Janna.Black@colorado.edu
Phone: (360) 797-8871
Tribes in the BIA Southwest region living in the state of New Mexico are served by the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, partnering with the Chickasaw Nation.
Western: Resources
- Western Regional Map (bia.gov)
- Western Tribal Fact Sheet (bia.gov)
Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) Regional Resources
- Pacific CASC Host University: The University of Arizona (arizona.edu)
- Southwest CASC Projects (cascprojects.org)
- Southwest CASC (usgs.gov)
Organization Resources
- American Indian Higher Education Consortium (aihec.org)
U.S. Department of the Interior Resources
- Colorado River Basin ASIST (usgs.gov)
Western: Bureau of Indian Affairs
Connect with the BIA Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience Regional Coordinator:
Shaina Tallas
Regional Coordinator
Email: shaina.tallas@bia.gov
Phone: (505) 917-4087
Western: Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison
The BIA Western region is served by the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center partnering with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.
Cynthia Naha
Senior Liaison
Email: cnaha@aihec.org
Phone: (505) 603-3129Anissa McKenna
Assistant Liaison
Email: amckenna@aihec.org
Phone: (912) 506-9508
Navajo: Resources
- Navajo Regional Map (bia.gov)
- Navajo Tribal Fact Sheet (bia.gov)
Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) Regional Resources
- Pacific CASC Host University: The University of Arizona (arizona.edu)
- Southwest CASC Projects (cascprojects.org)
- Southwest CASC (usgs.gov)
Organization Resources
- American Indian Higher Education Consortium (aihec.org)
U.S. Department of the Interior Resources
- Colorado River Basin ASIST (usgs.gov)
Navajo: Bureau of Indian Affairs
Connect with the BIA Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience Regional Coordinator:
Shaina Tallas
Regional Coordinator
Email: shaina.tallas@bia.gov
Phone: (505) 917-4087
Navajo: Tribal Climate Resilience Liaison
The BIA Navajo region is served by the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center partnering with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.
Cynthia Naha
Senior Liaison
Email: cnaha@aihec.org
Phone: (505) 603-3129Anissa McKenna
Assistant Liaison
Email: amckenna@aihec.org
Phone: (912) 506-9508
Contact Us
1001 Indian School Rd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
