USET Tribal Climate Science Liaison, Dr. Casey Thornbrugh, partnered with Adaptation/Insight Founder, Dr. Jennie Hoffman to hold a Climate Adaptation Plan Writing Retreat. The writing retreat was graciously hosted by the NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (NOAA-GARFO) in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The goal of the writing retreat was to assist Tribal professional/technical staff to complete written drafts of their Tribal Nation’s Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments or Adaptation Plans or to update existing plans. This year’s writing retreat included a preparation webinar, which was attended by Tribal staff from the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. The in-person writing retreat took place at NOAA-GARFO, December 10-12 and included participation from staff from the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and remote participation from the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). BIA Pathways and USET Graduate Student Intern, Tyler Everett, citizen of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, also provided comments and technical support on the climate adaptation drafts during the retreat. The retreat concluded with a tour of NOAA GARFO’s Seafood Inspection, Sustainable Fisheries, and Protected Resources divisions. The tour was led by NOAA-GARFO Tribal Liaison, Ellen Keane.
