Native America Calling: Native communities confront climate change in Alaska

Native America Calling: Native communities confront climate change in Alaska

Monday, June 9, 2025

Lack of government coordination and follow-through fail Native residents confronting climate change

At least two tribal relocation efforts foreshadow what can go wrong when even small communities are forced to contend with the increasing threats posed by climate change.

A report by the Washington Post, ProPublica, and Bethel radio station KYUK documents the ongoing difficulties which the residents of Newtok, Alaska, confront after moving their village to escape the effects of the rising sea and thawing permafrost.

Tune in to hear about that report and the worries about future efforts to react to changing landscapes.

Guests on Native America Calling

Bernice John (Yup’ik), president of the Newtok Native Corporation, an Alaska Native village corporation

Chantel Comardelle (Isle de Jean Charles Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe), tribal secretary for the

Emily Schwing, freelance reporter based in Alaska

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