Exploring Traditional Indigenous Knowledge Related to Emergency Management and Climate Adaptation
Research Location: Implemented: Chesapeake Bay region, USA
Conservation Partner: Nansemond Indian Nation
Student Researcher
Grace Cogley '25, Major: Anthropology; Major: Environment and Sustainability (Humanities concentration)Faculty Mentors
Dr. Martin Gallivan and Dr. Jessi JenkinsProject Description
Emergency preparedness and response to climate change is a top priority for the Nansemond Indian Nation. To effectively address the challenges posed by climate change, the community is working to integrate traditional knowledge and practices—deeply rooted in their heritage—with contemporary climate predictions and ecological models. This integration aims to plan for the potential impacts of climate change on the Chesapeake Bay ecosystems and surrounding communities.
In collaboration with the Nansemond Indian Nation's Environmental Department and faculty mentors, Grace Cogley ’25 compiled oral histories from Tribal members, focusing on how the community perceives, prepares for, responds to, and adapts to environmental changes and natural disasters. The research highlighted several key themes, including the centrality of religion and spirituality, a strong focus on community and supporting the most vulnerable, and the Tribe’s deep, enduring connection to the environment. These perspectives are vital to the Nansemond Indian Nation's emergency response and climate change adaptation strategies and should be carefully considered in future planning efforts.
