You know the headlines: “Global Warming Kicked into Overdrive,” “Super Niño 2026,” “Warning about Critical Threshold for Climate Change.” While U.S. and Global North publications drive sensationalism and stoke fear, Indigenous communities are leading climate adaptation efforts.
Indigenous leaders have been sounding the alarm about the climate crisis and our failure to minimize harm long before state leaders and figureheads even started to pay attention. Here at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, we’re grateful to partner with leaders in the field and support their work.
On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, let’s chat about a few you should know:
THE LOWLANDER CENTER
Based in Louisiana, the Lowlander Center is led by members of the Pointe-au-Chien and Atakapa-Ishak/Chawasha Tribes. Given the growing impacts of the climate crisis, Lowlander views human and environmental rights as core values for such a resilient future. They utilize rich knowledge within the bayou communities, including Traditional Ecological and Historied Knowledges, to address social and environmental pressures in the region. Their initiatives include restoring marshland and reducing flood risk by backfilling, developing toolkits for Indigenous people facing climate-forced displacement, and running the Disaster Justice Network to support community members in hurricane recovery.
TuCAN
The Tuvalu Climate Action Network (TuCAN) works to build a sustainable environment for future generations by addressing the urgent impacts of climate change. TuCAN engages the Indigenous community, partners, and government officials to develop practical policy recommendations that support Tuvaluan communities facing climate-forced displacement. Their initiatives include inclusion training to center the voices of women, youth, and disabled people in climate justice and an advocacy campaign to end deep sea mining.
TULELE PEISA
Tulele Peisa continues to lead the dignified relocation effort on the Carterets Islands, facilitating the relocation of 150 families (1,700 islanders) to safe and secure locations on the mainland—the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. In addition, the organization works to revive and preserve cultural practices. Their youth education initiative teaches young people traditional skills, crafts, and rituals, fostering reverence and maintaining cultural legacy through hands-on learning.
These are just three indigenous-led organizations that use traditional knowledge and contemporary expertise to lead climate adaptation. This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, support their work by making a contribution. Remember that when mainstream outlets report on environmental developments, Indigenous leaders not only sounded the alarm first, but they’re also already implementing and advocating for our desperately needed solutions.
