Caddo Nation Environmental Protection

01/30/2026

Caddo Nation Emergency Management would like to provide the following report for the activities that were performed by the Caddo Nation EM and EPA teams during the winter wonderland storm.

Thank you for all that you do for us and our nation!

Again, we hope everyone has stayed warm and safe during this winter storm!

01/22/2026

📣📣CADDO NATION📣📣

Caddo Nation offices will be closed tomorrow Friday, January 23, 2026 due to severe weather.

⚠️ WINTER STORM ALERT ⚠️

Please be aware that a winter storm is approaching our area. Now is the time to prepare and ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones.

Winter Storm Preparedness Checklist

Water & Non-Perishable Food – Stock up on bottled water and canned goods, crackers, peanut butter, and snacks for 3-5 days

Flashlights & Batteries – Make sure you have working flashlights and extra batteries

Blankets & Warm Clothing – Have extra blankets and layers ready

Medications – Ensure you have enough prescription medications

First Aid Kit – Have basic medical supplies on hand

Charged Devices – Keep cell phones charged and have backup power banks ready

Heating Alternatives – If power goes out, know your options for staying warm safely

Vehicle Safety

Keep in your car: Blankets, water, snacks, ice scraper, and a full tank of gas

Important Reminders:
✅ Check on family members, neighbors, and elders – Make sure they're prepared and safe
✅ Stay informed – Monitor the Caddo Nation page and website for updates
✅ Watch the local weather forecast – Stay updated on storm conditions
✅ Avoid unnecessary travel – Stay off the roads during hazardous conditions

08/13/2025

Natural Resource Specialists Cameron Roberts got to present over the Rainwater Catchment system we have at the Caddo Nation during the 30th Annual Inter-Tribal Environmental Conference ITEC.

He spoke over how we got funded for the project & who provided assistance with the planning and building. He went over what the water will be used for and how we will utilized that to our full potential.

07/21/2025

Please read below for a Air Quality in Tribal Communities Report by Caddo Nation Air Quality Intern Rebecca Zewdie

The Introduction to Air Quality in Tribal Communities course provided me with a well-rounded introduction to air quality in tribal communities. I learned about the science of air quality and atmospheric sciences, criteria pollutants, policies surrounding air quality for tribal communities, emissions inventories, air quality monitoring, and so much more.

One of the most important things I learned is that tribal communities are disproportionately exposed to poor air quality. Many tribal lands are near highways, factories, and other pollution sources. Tribes have the right to manage their own air programs, but it can be hard to get the funding and tools they need to do so. The Clean Air Act is a federal law that regulates air pollution across the United States. It sets national standards for air quality, and the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for enforcing them. The original Clean Air Act did not clearly state how tribal nations could participate in air quality management, but that changed in 1990 when the Tribal Authority Rule was added. This additional rule allows federally recognized tribes to be treated like states when it comes to managing air quality on their lands. Under the Tribal Authority Rule, tribes can create and run their own air programs, apply for federal funding, and make decisions to protect their communities.

Another important topic of this course was atmospheric sciences and methods of monitoring air quality. It is important to study climatology along with air quality because the spread of pollutants is influenced by climate patterns. Climate patterns such as temperature inversions, aridity, and sunlight impact the creation and breakdown of pollutants. Emissions inventories are lists of where pollution comes from. These lists help people understand how much pollution there is in a community and what the main causes are. Emission inventories are an important first step to making the air cleaner. Air monitoring uses instruments to collect data on pollutants in the air. This information helps communities understand when pollution levels are high, identify sources, and monitor changes over time. Air monitoring and emissions inventories are essential for protecting public health and building air quality programs.

07/16/2025

Caddo Nation Environmental Protection is proud to represent our region on the Regional Tribal Operations Committee. Western Oklahoma representatives include Caddo Nation, and the Fort Sill Apache Tribe.

Today, the Pueblo of Laguna hosted officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and leaders of Tribal Nations from throughout EPA Region 6 for the Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) meeting.

07/14/2025

Out of deep respect and in recognition of a profound loss to our Nation, the Caddo Nation Tribal Administration Office will be closed on Tuesday July 15th to honor the life and legacy of Edmond Johnson, our last fluent Caddo language speaker.

Mr. Johnson was not only a vital knowledge bearer of our language and a treasured elder. His passing marks an irreplaceable loss to our heritage, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who mourn with us.

This closure is a moment for reflection, mourning, and gratitude for the knowledge and spirit he carried on behalf of our ancestors and future generations. We ask that each of you take this time to honor him in your own way—through prayer, remembrance, or by simply speaking his name.

Regular operations will resume on 7/16/25.

06/30/2025

We hope everyone is staying cool during these warm summer months. Here is a quick PSA from our Air Quality Intern Rebecca Zewdie.

Air quality is impacted by chemicals that are in the air we breathe. Some chemicals, like oxygen and nitrogen, are important for healthy air, and some chemicals are harmful to human and environmental health. Harmful chemicals are called pollutants. Some of the most common pollutants are:
- Particulate matter
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Sulfur dioxide
- Carbon monoxide

Air quality is measured by various metrics, like the air quality index, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds.

The air quality index is a good indicator of air quality because it accounts for several pollutants in its calculations. The distribution is as below.
- 0–50: Good
- 51–100: Moderate
- 101–150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
- 151–200: Unhealthy
- 201–300: Very Unhealthy
- 301–500: Hazardous

The most common outdoor sources of pollution are vehicle emissions, factories, wildfires, agriculture, and construction
- It is important to protect your local air quality because continuous exposure to poor air quality has harmful health effects. Short-term effects are eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Long-term effects are asthma, lung disease, heart disease, and developmental issues in children

Air Quality Tips:
- It is important to take individual action to protect yourself from poor air quality. When spending extended periods of time outdoors, check the air quality on your phone or computer. You can check Airnow.gov or a weather app for details about the air quality that day.
- If outdoor air quality is above 150, try to limit the time you spend outdoors. If you have health conditions like asthma, heart, or lung conditions, are pregnant, elderly, or a young child, you may be more susceptible to poor air quality. If you are part of one of these vulnerable groups, you should limit your time outdoors whenever the AQI is above 100.
- Summers get extremely warm in Oklahoma. It is important to take measures to stay healthy in the extreme heat. Drink plenty of water, wear light clothing and sunscreen, and try to stay in the shade whenever possible.

06/16/2025

During June 3rd-5th 2025 the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma along with the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma partnered with the Wildlife refuge at the Wichita Mountains with multiple surrounding tribes to host our 2nd annual Wildlife Explorers Environmental Camp.

Day 1 the kids split into groups to visit different stations, these stations included environmental Water testing, terrarium ecosystem building, traditional handgames and to end the day the kids participated in some relay races.

Day 2 the ft. Sill Apache tribe presented on Macro invertebrates, The Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma helped the kids build solar powered RC cars, the wildlife refuge presented on the equipment they use and talked about wildland firefighting. After lunch we took a tour to see the native wildlife that inhabit the refuge and information was given to the youth on each species they were able to witness.

Day 3 the kids got to split into 2 groups and took a tour of the medicine park aquarium, the aquarium consisted of an Otter feeding, native amphibian species, native birds and native plant species. Followed by lunch.

A Special Thanks to all the tribes and organizations who helped make this special camp happen.

• The Caddo Nation of Oklahoma
• The Comanche Nation of Oklahoma
• The Delaware Nation of Oklahoma
• The Ft. Sill Apache tribe
• The Apache tribe of Oklahoma
• The Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma
• The Wichita Tribe of Oklahoma
• The Cheyanne & Arapaho Tribe
• Wildlife Refuge of Oklahoma
• The Friends of the wildlife refuge

06/10/2025

Please take a moment to help us welcome our Summer Air Quality Intern, made possible through a partnership with Northern Arizona University.

Hello, my name is Rebecca, and I am from Edmond, Oklahoma. I am a third-year undergraduate student at American University in Washington, DC. I am majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in International Relations. I have been interested in environmental health and justice since I was a child. My passions stem from my love for animals and appreciation for the earth’s natural resources. I believe that we have the moral obligation to protect the environment not only for our benefit, but also to sustain future generations.

I hope to attend law school after I complete my bachelor’s degree. After completing law school, I aspire to work at the intersection of law and environmental science to help create a more sustainable and equitable environment through the legal field. An area of environmental science I am particularly interested in is food system reform. The current food system in the U.S. is responsible for a number of health, social, animal, and environmental issues. My long-term career goal is to create sustainable change in the food system to protect the environment.

I am looking forward to my role this summer as an Air Quality Intern with the Caddo Nation. This summer, I hope to help enhance awareness surrounding air quality in the Caddo Nation and surrounding communities. I look forward to increasing community outreach to raise public awareness about the importance of clean air and its protection. My goal is to focus on education as an important part of my work. I hope to inform and empower community members with knowledge about air quality issues, their health impacts, and the steps people and communities can take to improve their environmental protection. Through this experience, I hope to gain a better understanding of the environmental challenges and solutions impacting Indigenous communities in Oklahoma. Through this internship, I will develop skills that will support my long-term career goals of improving environmental justice through legal and policy reform.

05/29/2025

During April’s Caddo Nation membership meeting, CNEP held a raffle for anyone who completed a questionnaire about environmental issues. Each winner received an appreciation bundle. We truly enjoyed speaking with everyone that came by our booth. Congratulations to our winners!!

Debbie Turner & Nina Bujanda

05/23/2025

Today we were able to host our 2025 Earth Day cleanup and it was a great success. We were able to collect 16 bags of trash, and in doing so we’ve helped keep our Caddo Nation beautiful. Thank you to each person who came and made a difference today. We are planning on hosting another clean up in the fall, so be on the lookout!

05/14/2025

Calling all future eco-leaders!

Learn how science plays a vital role in protecting our earth! Also, gain real-world exposure to exciting careers in science and environmental protection.

Come be part of a team of young leaders learning how science can create positive change in our communities!

If you have any questions please reach out! Our contact info is at the bottom of the flyer.