Native America Calling: Tribes see increasing urgency to confront flooding threat

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Native America Calling: Tribes see increasing urgency to confront flooding threat

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

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Tribes see increasing urgency to confront flooding threat

The village of Kwigillingok in Alaska is at a crossroads after flooding, fueled by a serious Bearing Sea storm, washed away 50 houses, killing three residents.

The storm is one of the increasingly frequent and increasingly severe storms to pummel the area. Combined with thawing permafrost and rising sea levels, village leaders are pushing to move — a plan that state and Native regional corporation officials reject.

Recent flooding in Washington State also has tribal officials assessing their options. There too, major flooding — what used to be a once-in-a-lifetime event — threatens residents’ lives and property and the natural viability of the rivers than once sustained life for local tribes.

Tune into Native America Calling to get updates about the effects of increasing floods and the difficult choices tribal officials face.

Community members in Kongiganak, Alaska, are assisted by the Alaska Organized Militia, the Alaska Army and Air National Guard, the Alaska State Defense Force and the Alaska Naval Militia as they conduct damage assessments following Typhoon Halong in October 2025. (Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joey Moon)

Guests on Native America Calling

Daniel Paul (Yup’ik), tribal president for the Native Village of Kipnuk, a federally recognized tribe in Alaska

Gavin Phillip (Yup’ik), tribal administrator for the Native Village of Kwigillingok, a federally recognized tribe in Alaska

Darrel John (Yup’ik), community school advocate in Kwigillingok in Alaska

Joseph Pavel (Skokomish), director of natural resources for the Skokomish Indian Tribe, headquartered in Washington

Guillaume Mauger, Washington state climatologist and research scientist at the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group