Fellow Project: Exploring the Intersection of Settler Colonialism and Climate Change on the Fort Hall Bottoms

This fellowship project aims to explore the impacts of colonial settlement and climate change on water quality and quantity in the Fort Hall Bottoms, which is a vital resource for the Shoshone-Bannock/Newe people. By weaving together Indigenous knowledge with Western scientific knowledge, this project aims to provide a needed understanding of these impacts and how the natural resource managers of the Shoshone-Bannock/Newe people are responding. The project will be conducted through a decolonized approach that respects and values Indigenous knowledge and expertise. Study findings will be relevant for the Shoshone-Bannock/Newe people and their livelihoods, as well as for other Indigenous communities facing similar challenges. This project will contribute to existing Indigenous climate change adaptation strategies that braid together Indigenous knowledge systems with Western knowledge systems and foster ethical research practices that prioritize respectful, reciprocal, and responsible relationship-building with Indigenous communities. Additionally, the project’s approach aligns with the larger movement towards decolonizing research and uplifting Indigenous knowledge in academia and society as a whole.