Regional Resources: Eastern Oklahoma and Southern Plains

The Eastern Oklahoma and Southern Plains regions together serve 44 Tribes through 9 local BIA agencies in Kansas, Texas and eastern Oklahoma. These regions experience weather that is dramatic and consequential; from hurricanes and flooding to heat waves and drought, its 34 million people, their infrastructure, and economies are often stressed, greatly impacting socioeconomic systems. The quality of life for the region’s residents is dependent upon resources and natural systems for the sustainable provision of our basic needs—food, energy, and water. Extreme weather and climate events have redistributed demands for consumption, production, and supply across these regions (NCA4, Ch. 23). Tribal and Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to water resource constraints, extreme weather events, higher temperature, and other likely public health issues. Efforts to build community resilience can be hindered by economic, political, and infrastructure limitations, but traditional knowledge and intertribal organizations provide opportunities to adapt to the potential challenges of climate change (NCA4, Ch. 23).