NDPTC and Haskell Indian Nations University form partnership

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Dale Uno, (808) 956-0605
Project Development/Business Manager, Social Sciences, NDPTC
Posted: Aug 21, 2013

NDPTC’s Karl Kim and Daniel Wildcat of Haskell Indian Nations University sign agreement.
NDPTC’s Karl Kim and Daniel Wildcat of Haskell Indian Nations University sign agreement.

A memorandum of agreement was signed this summer in a ceremony at the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) in downtown Honolulu. This agreement between the NDPTC and the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center (HERS) of Haskell Indian Nations University will improve training on disaster preparedness, response and recovery of communities affected by natural disasters and climate change. Bringing them together in a spirit of cooperation and open communication, the agreement was signed by Dr. Daniel Wildcat of Haskell Indian Nations University, and Dr. Karl Kim of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. This partnership addresses needs identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to work with the “whole community.”

As a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC) and a FEMA training partner dedicated to providing critical all-hazards training throughout the United States and its territories, NDPTC is uniquely positioned geographically and culturally to develop and deliver training and education on disaster preparedness, response and recovery to governmental, private, tribal, indigenous and non-profit entities, as well as under-represented and underserved communities.

The Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center (HERS) is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), a network of 37 tribal colleges and universities that provide opportunities to American Indians through programs that are locally and culturally based, holistic and supportive. It collaborates with federal agencies to ensure that indigenous tribal knowledge of landscapes and climates are valued, used and incorporated into tribal research, education, training, outreach, communication, policies and plans to increase the resilience of tribal communities and economies to natural disasters.

This agreement between NDPTC and HERS will improve disaster-related education and training for tribal and indigenous communities who face substantial challenges in the event of extreme natural hazards and disasters. Typically hardest hit when these events occur, these communities suffer severe consequences due to their dependence on natural resources to sustain their economic and cultural practices, as well as their close ties to the environment for their physical, mental, intellectual, social and cultural well-being. Valuable lessons and practices to other communities interested in building resilience will also be captured.

To learn more about the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, visit ndptc.hawaii.edu.