How a Resilient Native Community in Northeastern Maine Is Tackling Climate Change Challenges

This is the first of two articles by Inside Climate News about the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s struggles with sea level rise, water quality, and habitat resilience on the coast of Maine. The second article addresses water issues facing the tribe. 

Sydney Cromwell
Inside Climate News

SIPAYIK, Maine — The Passamaquoddy Tribe faces tough challenges on the Sipayik peninsula, surrounded by rising water and a shifting climate. Here, what was once a thriving ecosystem is showing signs of stress. Beaches are eroding, marshes are disappearing, and homes are becoming harder to protect from intense weather.

Ralph Dana, 57, a tribal member and aquatic restoration coordinator, reflects on these losses. He has seen his community change drastically. Rising seas threaten the very land that has been home for over 10,000 years. “We’re fishers; we belong in this place,” he says, highlighting their deep connection to the land and water.

Rena Newell, a former tribal representative, notes the beauty of their location. “We’re among the first to see the sunrise,” she says. But this beauty is overshadowed by hardship. About one-third of the population lives in poverty, and life expectancy on the reservation is just 49 years, starkly lower than the state average of 78 years.

Climate change is intensifying these struggles. In the last 30 years, sea levels have risen by almost 9 inches, with projections suggesting increases of 1.5 feet by 2050 and up to 8 feet by 2100. According to Sean Birkel, Maine’s state climatologist, this rise is mostly due to climate change effects, and the Gulf of Maine is rising faster than the global average. Coastal flooding is now commonplace, with averages tripling over the last several decades.

In response, the tribe launched a climate action plan and has secured over $5 million in grant funding to address these issues. They are assessing vulnerabilities and pushing to improve resilience within their community. “The resilience ‘basket’ concept is about much more than building barriers; it encompasses food and energy security, cultural heritage, and a safe environment,” explains Robert Wood, a project leader.

Yet, solutions face many challenges. Heavy storms and flooding can disrupt basic infrastructure, threatening homes and vital services like wastewater treatment. Chuck Applebee, who oversees the treatment facility, warns that a significant flood could render it inoperable, leading to severe environmental consequences.

Changing ocean temperatures are also impacting traditional food sources. Commercial harvests of shellfish and other species, once staples of their diet, have dropped significantly. Rising temperatures have driven away many cold-water fish species and opened the door for invasive ones, like the green crab, which threaten native marine life.

A community project aimed at restoring habitat for alewives — a crucial fish species for the local ecosystem — shows promise, with efforts to remove dams hindering their migration. The tribe hopes to recover their traditional fishing practices, thereby reviving part of their culture.

Facing these challenges brings difficult questions about the future. Will the Passamaquoddy be able to continue living in Sipayik? Relocation is a tough option, fraught with logistical and emotional burdens—many feel deep ties to this land. “This is home,” Altvater underscores, stressing that moving isn’t simply about finding higher ground but about where identity and community lie.

As climate-related disruptions continue to grow, the dedication of the Passamaquoddy people to their homeland remains strong, as they seek sustainable ways to adapt and stand together against the rising tide.

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy, and the environment.

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Climate,Climate Change,Maine,Passamaquoddy,Rising Sea Levels