Project Grant 2416656

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $124,434 Project Grant under the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (CFDA 47.075) program to the University of Oklahoma (OU) to conduct research on "Indigenous Experiences of Environmental Changes in Historical Perspective." The project aims to trace the history of how indigenous communities have understood and responded to climate variability and environmental changes since the end of the Little Ice Age in the mid-1800s. The research will involve extensive archival research, document analysis, oral histories, and ethnographic interviews to examine how indigenous people's ecological experiences, knowledge, and practices have shifted over the last 200 years and how their relationships with the changing environment have shaped their identities and claims to resources and autonomy. The goal is to provide policymakers, scientists, and environmental organizations with insights into indigenous views and experiences to inform more inclusive and attentive climate adaptation plans. The award period is from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2026.