CHARM Roadmap: Tribal communities

Lake County, California, is home to seven federally recognized Tribes:

• Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians
• Elem Indian Colony
• Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake
• Koi Nation of Northern California
• Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians
• Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California
• Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians

These Tribes are descendants of the Pomo, Miwok, Yuki and Wappo peoples, who have inhabited the Clear Lake region for thousands of years, sustaining rich cultural traditions and deep connections to the land.

Lake County Tribes have endured a history of land loss, forced relocation, enslavement, exploitation, and violence under federal and state policies. Many were displaced from ancestral lands, sent to urban areas, and stripped of their ability to engage in traditional cultural practices, food sources, and ways of living.

Despite this legacy, Tribes in Lake County have shown remarkable resilience—reclaiming land, providing stewardship and protection of ancestral territories, engaging in cultural revitalization, and building strong institutions that support Tribal members. In many cases, Tribal institutions also provide benefits and support to the non-native community.

However, Tribal members experience compromised health at a rate much higher than other Lake County residents, including a risk of premature death that is more than three times higher than the County average, increasing their vulnerability to climate-driven events (CDEs). It is sometimes assumed that Tribes will manage crises independently and do not need state or county support in times of emergency. However, collaboration with these partners is essential to ensure that Tribal members are safe during CDEs.

Vulnerability to climate-driven events

• Health vulnerabilities - American Indians experience higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes, respiratory disease, heart disease, and kidney disease. These health issues increase sensitivity to CDEs such as extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and harmful algal blooms (HABs).
• Cultural impacts- CDEs threaten sacred lands, traditional practices, community events, and food systems deeply tied to Clear Lake and surrounding ecosystems. For example, HABs reduces access to traditional fishing, plant gathering, and ceremonial water use, while wildfires threaten culturally- important sites and species.
• Geographic & transportation barriers- Some Tribal communities are located in rural, high-risk, or hard-to-reach areas with limited transportation, limiting evacuation options and delaying access resources like resilience centers and healthcare that are critical during CDEs.
• Structural & systemic challenges- Historical and ongoing land dispossession, underfunding, and jurisdictional exclusion have left many Tribes with limited access to emergency planning, climate funding, or infrastructure investment. Assumptions that Tribes will rely solely on their own governments during emergencies can lead to gaps in county, state, or federal coordination.

Who works with this community

In Lake County, several organizations support Tribal communities, offering a comprehensive range of services. Tribal governments provide social services, housing support, environmental protection, cultural preservation, and more. The Lake County Tribal Health Consortium (LCTHC) offers medical, dental, and behavioral health services tailored to Native American families. County resources such as Lake County Behavioral Health Services provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment with cultural sensitivity. Additionally, the Circle of Native Minds Wellness Center provides peer counseling and mental health support, focusing on trauma, addiction recovery, and community healing. These organizations work together to ensure holistic care for Tribal communities, addressing both practical needs and cultural well-being.

Selected survey findings

• 40% of interviewees and 20% of survey respondents were Tribal members. Tribal members interviewed came from the Big Valley, Habematolel, Scotts Valley, Robinson, Middletown, and Sioux Tribes, and survey respondents came from the following Tribes:

• Native respondents were more likely to report having a chronic health condition (81.4%) compared to non-Native respondents (62.1%), highlighting a greater underlying health burden that may increase vulnerability during climate-related events.

• When asked about their current housing status,

  • Native respondents were less likely to live in a house (34.3%) compared to non-Native respondents (65.8%).
  • They were more likely to live in apartments (24.3% vs. 8.1%) or mobile homes (27.1% vs. 19.9%).
  • Unhoused status was reported by 11.4% of Native respondents, compared to just 2.5% of non-Native respondents.
  • Living in mobile homes or non-stable housing (e.g., vehicles, temporary arrangements) may increase vulnerability during climate-driven events such as extreme heat, wildfire, or power shutoffs, due to limited insulation, mobility, or access to necessary resources in an emergency.

Community voices

"Big Valley is a very good response and support team for all of its tribal members. We have a couple of different websites that stuff get posted on. Sarah Ryan, our EPA director, is really quick to send out information to tribal members about everything, fires and places to go, and evacuation warnings and notices, and the different apps that we can download onto our phones so that we can get first real, first hand information."

"We definitely all communicate. There's not like someone to be left behind."

"I think for the most part our tribe does really well with the community from first aid kids to Narcan, fire extinguishers, waters, even like the fans, or the humidifiers. They even have humidifiers. But when it was really smoky, they brought us, they brought us some type of fan because the smoke was so bad, it was, like, really bad breathing. So they brought us fans that would, like, suck that out and give us cleaner air."

Tribes are sovereign nations with inherent rights to govern their lands, waters, and communities. Collaborative resilience strategies must respect and support Tribal self-determination, ensuring that Tribes lead efforts affecting their people and territories. County agencies and NGOs have important roles to play as partners by aligning with Tribal priorities, honoring traditional ecological knowledge, and providing resources, technical support, and advocacy that strengthen Tribal leadership and governance.

Tribes

• Fire & land stewardship- Strengthen community preparedness for wildfire through cultural and prescribed burns informed by Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and maintain wildfire protection plans that account for changing climate and vegetation patterns.
• Water security & HABs- Enhance drought and water quality preparedness by protecting traditional water sources, restoring watersheds, and promoting water-use efficiency. Monitor and respond to HABs that threaten drinking water, fish, and cultural practices, Ensure timely public health communication and safe alternative water supplies.
• Health, extreme heat & air quality- Protect health during heat waves, wildfire smoke events, and HAB advisories by operating cooling and clean air centers, distributing air purifiers and clean water, and conducting outreach—especially for elders, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
• Infrastructure & power outages- Improve housing resilience by retrofitting homes for fire and heat resistance, installing solar power with battery storage, and developing off-grid or microgrid systems. Prioritize access to backup power for medical devices, refrigeration, and communication during outages.
• Economic development & emergency services- Train Tribal members in climate emergency response, ecological restoration, and public health monitoring (e.g., for HABs or air quality). Support sustainable enterprises that strengthen local self-reliance and disaster preparedness.
• Education & knowledge transfer- Prepare future generations for climate challenges by blending TEK and climate science in education programs. Empower youth through mentorship with Tribal elders and training in community-based monitoring and response.

County agencies

• Coordinate emergency planning and infrastructure investment with Tribes
• Support wildfire and water resilience through planning, technical assistance, and integration of Tribal lands in regional efforts.
• Provide public health services tailored to Tribal needs during heat waves, smoke events, and disasters.
• Ensure Tribal inclusion in all relevant climate, hazard mitigation, and land use planning processes.
• Facilitate access to funding and offer technical assistance for climate resilience and adaptation efforts.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

• Provide technical and capacity-building support, including training for fire crews, water systems, and housing resilience.
• Support funding access through grant writing assistance, program development, and project implementation help.
• Partner on education and outreach, co-creating culturally relevant health and climate materials.
• Convene partnerships between tribes, agencies, and other stakeholders to advance holistic resilience goals.

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