Nearly $1 million will be spent at Acadia National Park to develop climate change resiliency strategies/NPS file

Nearly $1 million will be spent in Acadia National Park in Maine to address climate-change vulnerabilities of coastal archeological sites, collections, landscapes and ethnographic resources. 

The $950,000, flowing from a $195 million pool of money from the Inflation Reduction Act, will allow for the co-creation of a decision framework and adaptation guidebook, using 25-35 threatened archaeological sites as case studies, a park release said.

Acadia staff and Wabanaki tribes will produce a product that models co-stewardship in identifying, prioritizing, adapting, and monitoring climate vulnerable indigenous archaeological sites. The team will then develop and pilot a citizen science program for documentation and monitoring vulnerable sites and landscapes. Finally, the parks and tribes will co-create public programs and lesson plans for Wabanaki communities and public audiences to advance knowledge, awareness and value of indigenous resources in national parks.

The project will engage multiple partner organizations, including but not limited to federally recognized tribes, collectively known as Wabanaki Nations; University of Maine; fluent Wabanaki language speakers; and Schoodic Institute.

Across the Northeast, sea level rise, flooding, and extreme weather events affect thousands of documented and undocumented cultural sites affiliated with tribal nations, according to the National Park Service. By utilizing the ’Two-eyed Seeing’ model for meaningfully integrating Indigenous Knowledge (IK) with Western science, this project will build on 15 years of consultation at Acadia National Park, Saint Croix Island International Historical Site and Roosevelt Campobello International Park with Wabanaki Tribes.

These projects infuse much-needed funding in putting people to work in addressing critical ecosystem needs to restore healthy and resilient park lands while benefiting communities surrounding parks, the park release said.

"When faced with the humbling realities of what climate change has in store for places like Acadia, it only makes sense to use every resource available to us to prepare for the future,” said Acadia Superintendent Kevin Schneider. “We are eager to learn from the Wabanaki Tribes. This funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will allow Acadia National Park to work deeply with the Wabanaki tribes to share information for co-stewardship of heritage cultural resources. We will protect climate vulnerable sites in the park based on shared decision-making, best available science and indigenous knowledge."