Tribes are keenly aware of the interconnection between health, nature, and personal wellbeing. Leading experts in climate change and wellbeing are increasingly encouraging communities to be proactive about protecting and building psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual wellbeing. Often overlooked in adaptation planning, wellbeing interventions can be a critical element of adapting to the growing stressors and trauma associated with climate change.

Over the last year, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, Tribal Climate Health Project, and Prosper Sustainably have taken a deep look into the latest literature, knowledge, evidence-based best practices, and examples related to psychosocial climate resilience. We are now pleased to distribute “Chemşhúun Pe’ícháachuqeli (When our Hearts are Happy): A Tribal Psychosocial Climate Resilience Framework.”

This report synthesizes how we plan to apply our learnings in a unique framework that is designed to effectively build psychosocial climate resilience within the Pala community. It is also intended to share a guiding approach with other communities that are working to safeguard human wellbeing as part of their efforts to prepare and adapt to climate change.

We thank the National Indian Health Board for the Climate Ready Tribe grant contribution that made this report possible. We are also grateful to our advisor, Dr. Douglas Walker (Mercy Family Center), a psychologist and nationally- recognized expert in psychosocial recovery and resilience, who’s knowledge and experience substantially informed this report.