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Climate change in arid lands and Native American socioeconomic vulnerability: The case of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

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Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States

Abstract

The case of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe exemplifies tribal vulnerabilities as a result of climate change. Preliminary socio-economic data and analysis reveal that the tribe’s vulnerability to climate change is related to cultural and economic dependence on Pyramid Lake, while external socio-economic vulnerability factors influence adaptive capacity and amplify potential impacts. Reduced water supplies as a consequence of climate change would result in a compounded reduction of inflows to Pyramid Lake, thus potentially impacting the spawning and sustenance of a cultural livelihood, the endangered cui-ui fish (Chasmistes cujus). Meanwhile, limited economic opportunities and dwindling federal support constrain tribal adaptive capacity. Factors that contribute to tribal adaptive capacity include: sustainability-based values, technical capacity for natural resource management, proactive initiatives for the control of invasive-species, strong external scientific networks, and remarkable tribal awareness of climate change.

This article is part of a Special Issue on "Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States: Impacts, Experiences, and Actions" edited by Julie Koppel Maldonado, Rajul E. Pandya, and Benedict J. Colombi.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Mahesh R. Gautam

  2. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Karletta Chief

  3. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    William J. Smith Jr.

Authors
  1. Mahesh R. Gautam
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  2. Karletta Chief
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  3. William J. Smith Jr.
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Correspondence to Karletta Chief .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, American University, Washington, DC, USA

    Julie Koppel Maldonado

  2. American Indian Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Benedict Colombi

  3. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA

    Rajul Pandya

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Gautam, M.R., Chief, K., Smith, W.J. (2013). Climate change in arid lands and Native American socioeconomic vulnerability: The case of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. In: Maldonado, J.K., Colombi, B., Pandya, R. (eds) Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05266-3_7

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