Mini-Grant Midterm Report

FMP 2007 Annual Meeting March 26, 2007

California Indian Tribes & Tribal Members’ Increased

Risk• Fish: Subsistence staple in traditional diets• Fundamental: Spiritual, ceremonial &

cultural identity of the people. • Mercury: Serious threat to the individual &

collective development of Peoples, including ability to transmit culture to future generations.

Cultural Specific Exposure:Cultural exposure routes: basketmaking materials, materials for regaliaCultural/ceremonial consumption patterns: spring & summer tribal members "return home" celebrate continuing cultures & fishUrban to rural areas & back: bring home canned, dried & fresh fish that is eaten throughout the year Extensive travel for fishingDiffering species: lamprey, abalone & sturgeon

CIEA’s Completed 2007 Materials

• 4 issues of CIEA E-News & 3 Calendars of upcoming events: 150 tribal members & tribal representatives of 48 California tribes

• “Mercury in Fish: Protecting Future Generations” Health Brochure: in final peer review.

• “Mercury Toxic Legacy: Impacts on Native Cultures &

Community Solutions” PowerPoint May, Oroville

• CIEA website at www.cieaweb.org, February 2007. All initial contents have been sent to our web designer updates due June 15th

CIEA 2007 Activities “Mercury in Our Water, Our Fish & Our People”

A Sierra Tribal Convergence

March 3, 2007, Shingle Springs Rancheria, El Dorado County, CA, Tsi-Akim41 of California Tribes: Paiute, Walker River Paiute, Shingle Springs Rancheria Miwok, Mechoopda Indian Tribe of the Chico Rancheria, 15 additional participants from either state or federal agencies, community based organizations or health care centers. Enterprise Rancheria, Round Valley & the Tsi-Akim Maidu.

May 17-18, 2007, Enterprise Rancheria, Oroville, Butte County, CA Tsi-Akim/CIEA35 Tribal representatives: fromm Shingle Springs Rancheria Miwok, Enterprise Rancheria, Round Valley, Tsi-Akim Maidu, Berry Creek & Scotts Valley Band of Pomo. Within the FMP project area were participants from Lake Plumas, Butte, Yuba, Sutter, Sacramento, Amador, El Dorado, Merced, Contra Costa & Alameda & Counties.

CIEA 2007 Activities27th Annual Traditional Health Indian Education Program

May 18-20th, Pine Grove, Amador County, CA w/ Calif. Rural Indian Health Board15 tribal members: members of fishing families, health care workers & tribal representatives from California including: Yurok, Warm Springs Rancheria, Smith River Rancheria, Pit River, Yurok & Shingle Springs Rancheria.

•Grupo Maya: Spanish for indigenous Mayan communities in California•CRIHB distribution of health materials to tribal health programs & tribal leaders ?

Future CIEA 2007 Workshops:

“Mercury in Fish: Protecting Future Generations” brochure

“Mercury in Our Water Our Fish & Our People” conference at Redding Rancheria, Redding, CA. July 21-22, 2007 Day one: health / education & local advisory portion. CIEA w/FMP training strategies & materials.

“Mercury Tribal Health” workshop & outreach meeting in Central ValleyHost TBD, Aug. TBA, 2007 ( FMP Needs Assessment Counties) One Day: Local fish advisories, the 2007 fish tissue testing schedule (once distributed by OEHHA), & health impacts on the human body.

“Mercury Tribal Health” workshop & outreach meetings: Urban Bay Area, Aug.-Oct. 2007 at Indian Child Resource Center, Native American Health Center & Indian People Organizing for Change (Ohlone).

CIEA Web: www.cieaweb.org: est. updates June 15th. & CIEA ENews /Calendar

Benefits of Mini-Grant Program, LSAG & FMP Steering Committee

Ability to complete our planned educational actions & continue to participate in FMP

FMP Benefits:

• Outreach tools / strategies• Opportunities to advise fish testing• Increase knowledge, interest & opportunities to advocate

for self• Networking

To Increase Community Participation

• Tribal members travel throughout state:– Need “Frequently Asked Questions about

Mercury in Fish from the California Delta Watershed” all advisories. Reproduce more cheaply?

• OEHHA Focus groups & presentations

• Outreach to communities w/ CBOs

• Timeline…

Lessons Learned

• Timeline: First time skeptics, time to convince the community of problem Workshop summary

• FMP 2007 Priority Area, including the 2007 Needs Assessment Counties: impacted? 1st time outreach

• CIEA: 2nd time contact = 3 host tribes? CIEA face to face needed

• 2007 = beginning of the tribal interest in this issue in the current focus area

Future Mini-grant recommendations:

• Community Driven Risk Reduction Solutions

• Info dissemination: upcoming events, workshops, stakeholders meetings & planning meetings

• Build capacity of groups: active models of regional working groups, coalitions & agreement processes among groups.

•What are DHS/OHHA & SFEI are moving into as the Fish Mercury Project ends in 2007? Keep communities involved

•Funding that ties watersheds together wholisticallyCollaborative grant funding science led by community needs