The Indigenous Sovereignty in Disasters Training Module describes the historical legacy of settler colonialism in the United States and its territories and how this system marginalized and ultimately sought to extinguish Indigenous Peoples. Drawing on empirical literature, it defines key concepts related to colonial systems and describes how current drivers of social vulnerability—such as nutrition, health care, and education—are rooted in settler colonial structures.

“The poor disaster outcomes experienced by Indigenous communities, such as those we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, are a direct result of contemporary manifestations of settler colonial structures,” said Hōkūlani Rivera (Kanaka Maoli), one of the lead developers of the module. “Federal law and policy, as well as our current capitalist system contribute to high rates of poverty, pre-existing health conditions, housing insecurity, and imprisonment among members of Indigenous communities. Despite, these vulnerabilities, we continue to resist and challenge these structures through our sovereignty and relationships with the land.”

The module showcases the multifaceted ways that Indigenous communities work to build resilience to hazards and disasters. For instance, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)—or the intrinsic knowledge Indigenous Peoples have learned and retained over thousands of years related to the physical world and how to live as a part of it—can be used to better manage natural resources and adapt to climate change. Cultural controlled burning, described in the below case study highlight from the module, is one such example of how TEK contributes to enhanced disaster resilience.

The last section of the module focuses on engaging in ethical research and practice partnerships with Indigenous communities, with a specific focus on the role of trust and long-term participatory engagement in building research and emergency management collaborations between non-Indigenous and Indigenous partners. As a framework for ethical cross-cultural collaboration, it presents the 7R’s for education, research, and engagement with Indigenous communities, developed by two of the module developers, Michelle Montgomery (enrolled Haliwa Saponi/descendant Eastern Band Cherokee) and Paulette Blanchard (absentee Shawnee/Kickapoo). This section also highlights the policies and procedures that shape how government agencies consult and work with Indigenous communities in emergency situations.

This module was originally developed as a nine-part course on Tribal and Indigenous communities' experiences of COVID-19 and climate change. Julie Maldonado, associate director for the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network and one of the developers of the module, said, “While the original course was meant to be delivered as part of undergraduate classes, including at tribal colleges and universities, the partnership with CONVERGE will allow us to reach a wider audience of hazards and disaster researchers and practitioners.” She continued, “This module can help educate users on how Indigenous Peoples experience and work to combat the impacts of hazards and disasters, while emphasizing approaches to ethical and participatory research partnerships with Indigenous communities.”

To successfully complete the module, users must pass a 10-question quiz to receive a certificate worth one contact hour of general management training through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) certification program.

Users can visit the CONVERGE website for supplementary materials, including the CONVERGE Assignment Bank and Annotated Bibliographies. This is where previously released modules can also be accessed, including those focused on foundational topics, including Institutional Review Board procedures, conducting emotionally challenging research, cultural competence, collecting and sharing perishable data, social vulnerability, and disaster mental health. In addition, CONVERGE offers advanced trainings in specialized topics such as broader ethical considerations, reciprocity, gender-based violence in fieldwork, positionality, and public health implications of hazards and disaster research.

The next training modules to be released in the series include:

• Older Adults Across the Disaster Lifecycle
• Social Science Methods and Approaches for Hazards and Disaster Research

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Related Links

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CONVERGE Indigenous Sovereignty in Disasters Training Nodule: A Demonstration Webinar

NHERI CONVERGE Training Modules

NHERI CONVERGE

Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado Boulder

Frontiers: CONVERGE Training Modules: A free online educational tool for hazards and disaster researchers and practitioners