Our Living Lands

Across the country, rising seas are threatening Indigenous lands. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe, which sits on a bend in the Pamunkey River in Virginia, was recently named one of the most endangered historic places. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke with Kendall Stevens, the tribe’s cultural resources director, and Joseph Capella, the tribe’s natural resources director, about their work to protect Pamunkey lands.

As the climate crisis worsens, the very ground on which some Indigenous communities built their homes is shifting before their eyes. New Orleans Public Radio’s Eva Tesfaye looked at how tribes in Alaska and Louisiana are losing their land to climate change, forcing them to make tough decisions about whether to stay or to leave. Our Living Lands’ producer Daniel Spaulding spoke with her about the story.

Extreme heat and stronger storms pose health risks for Indigenous communities. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke to the Mountain West News Bureau’s Kaleb Roedel about the ways climate change is impacting Indigenous health in Nevada, and what tribes are doing about it.

Climate change is making rural Indigenous communities' efforts to receive quality health care more challenging. In Nevada, rising temperatures present a growing health risk. Stronger storms can also make traveling to get care difficult. The Mountain West News Bureau’s Kaleb Roedel reports that one tribe has found a solution: a doctor’s office on wheels.

Amid the climate crisis, some Indigenous nations are reclaiming and rejuvenating their land. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke to Jason Brough, a Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation Tribal Member, about Indigenous relationships with land. Brough, who is also a PhD candidate at the University of Maine, shares his ideas on what the rest of the world can learn from Indigenous knowledge.

Understanding ancient horse migration patterns could help us adapt to climate change. That's according to a new study from a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke to Dr. Yvette Running Horse Collin about their work.

Climate change is putting snow sports like skiing at risk. For Indigenous skiers, that adds to a long history of exclusion from the sport. Let My People Go Skiing is a new film about access to snow sports for Alaska Native youth. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke to Ellen Bradley, the film's director and Lingít skier, about what skiing means to Indigenous people.

Climate change is having unexpected impacts across Indigenous land. In the Alaskan Arctic, scientists and hunters have been counting bowhead whales. The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden reports that less sea ice seems to be leading to more whales. But warmer temperatures could come with other consequences for both researchers and whales.

The West is known for its spectacular outdoor recreation. But for Indigenous communities, access to activities like fly fishing has been difficult. Our Living Lands Producer Daniel Spaulding spoke to Treston Chee, a Navajo filmmaker, about his new film documenting one camp's work to change that.

In our first six months, Our Living Lands has covered everything from the impact of climate change on ice in the Arctic to Indigenous cultural burning practices in California. For this special episode, Antonia Gonzales spoke with Producer Daniel Spaulding about some of Our Living Lands' highlights over the last six months.