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Indigenous Regenerative Conservation Program

PROTECTING WHAT SUSTAINS US,

RESTORING WHAT SUSTAINS THE FUTURE.

ROOTED IN LAND AND WATER. GUIDED BY ANCESTORS. LED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES. FOR THE NEXT SEVENTH GENERATIONS.

Vision

We envision a future where Indigenous peoples lead the restoration, stewardship, governance, and protection of the lands, waters, species, and ecological relationships that have sustained life since time immemorial.

 

We believe conservation is not merely the protection of nature. Conservation is the practice of reciprocity. It is the responsibility to care for the relationships that care for us.

 

The Indigenous Regenerative Conservation Program exists to support Indigenous leadership in restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, strengthening cultural lifeways, advancing climate resilience, and ensuring future generations inherit thriving homelands.

Why This Matters

Across the world, Indigenous peoples steward some of the planet's most biologically and culturally significant landscapes. Yet Indigenous communities remain underfunded, underrepresented, and excluded from many conservation decisions affecting their ancestral territories.

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At the same time:

  • Biodiversity is declining.

  • Watersheds are under stress.

  • Salmon populations are collapsing.

  • Forests face increasing threats.

  • Sacred sites remain vulnerable.

  • Climate change is accelerating ecological disruption.

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We believe the future of conservation depends on Indigenous leadership.

Not because Indigenous peoples are stakeholders.

Because Indigenous peoples are rights holders, knowledge holders, and place-based stewards whose relationships with the land extend across generations.

Conservation Through Relationship

We believe conservation is not merely the protection of nature. Conservation is the practice of reciprocity.

Our work is grounded in Indigenous leadership, knowledge, and values. We protect and restore the lands, water and all our relatives through relatonships - not extraction. We advance Indigenous-led conservation solutions that heal ecosystems, strengthen communities, and secure a just and living future for generations to come.

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We do not separate:

Land from people.

Water from culture.

Species from ceremony.

Restoration from justice.

Conservation from sovereignty.

For us, conservation is the restoration of relationships between:

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Our Program Areas

Landscape Conservation & Protection

Supporting the protection and restoration of ecologically and culturally significant landscapes. Focus Areas: Land protection Habitat restoration Wildlife corridors Sacred landscapes Climate resilience planning Community conservation strategies Example Initiatives: Wasa’tós Columbia Basin stewardship efforts Landscape-scale conservation partnerships

Indigenous Stewardship & Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Supporting Indigenous-led stewardship practices and knowledge systems. Focus Areas: Cultural burning Traditional harvesting Seasonal stewardship Indigenous ecological monitoring Knowledge transmission Community stewardship planning This work honors Indigenous knowledge while protecting cultural integrity and community ownership.

Watershed & Salmon Recovery

Water is life. Healthy rivers, wetlands, estuaries, and salmon systems are foundational to Indigenous well-being. Focus Areas: Salmon recovery Watershed restoration Wetland protection Water quality monitoring Tribal water stewardship Climate adaptation Potential Partnerships: Tribal fisheries organizations Watershed councils Conservation districts Academic institutions

Species and Biodiversity Stewardship

Protecting culturally significant and ecologically vital species. Focus Areas: First Foods species Pollinators Native plants Wildlife habitat Endangered species recovery Traditional ecological monitoring Priority Outcomes: Increased biodiversity Habitat connectivity Community stewardship engagement

Climate Resilience & Just Transition

Climate change is reshaping ecosystems and communities. Our work supports adaptation strategies that center Indigenous leadership and ecological restoration. Focus Areas: Climate adaptation Nature-based solutions Carbon accountability Renewable energy transitions Climate migration planning Community resilience

Conservation Policy & Advocacy

Transforming systems that impact lands, waters, and communities. Focus Areas: Tribal co-management Conservation funding equity Public lands advocacy Environmental justice Infrastructure accountability Data center accountability Energy siting reform We advocate for policies that recognize Indigenous leadership in conservation and environmental governance.

Future Ancestors Conservation Leadership

Building the next generation of Indigenous conservation leaders. Focus Areas: Youth stewardship Conservation fellowships Leadership development Community science Cultural mapping Environmental storytelling We believe every conservation strategy should include pathways for youth leadership and intergenerational knowledge sharing.

Flagship Conservation Initiatives

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Wasa’tós

A landscape-scale conservation and restoration vision in the Columbia Basin focused on ecological integrity, cultural stewardship, wildlife connectivity, and long-term protection.

Data Center Accountability

Protecting lands, waters, communities, and Tribal sovereignty from extractive infrastructure development while advancing responsible technology governance.

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Breathing Meadows

Future Ancestors

Supporting Indigenous food systems, buffalo stewardship, cultural revitalization, and community resilience.

A regenerative landscape vision integrating conservation, medicine, education, healing, and stewardship.

Developing a new generation of Indigenous environmental leaders capable of navigating climate, conservation, policy, and cultural stewardship challenges.

Healthy lands create healthy waters.

Healthy waters support healthy foods.

Healthy foods strengthen healthy communities.

Healthy communities sustain culture.

Healthy culture strengthens stewardship.

Healthy stewardship protects future generations.

This is the cycle we seek to restore.

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What Success Looks Like

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Ecological

  • Acres protected

  • Habitat restored

  • Watersheds improved

  • Species recovered

  • Biodiversity increased

Cultural

  • Traditional stewardship practices revitalized

  • Cultural access expanded

  • Indigenous knowledge protected

  • Sacred sites safeguarded

Community

  • Youth leaders trained

  • Stewardship jobs created

  • Community health strengthened

  • Indigenous leadership expanded

Systems

  • Policies improved

  • Tribal co-management increased

  • Conservation funding redirected

  • Accountability strengthened

Our Work. Our Way.
Our Future.

We envision an Indigenous Conservation Network that connects Tribal Nations, Indigenous organizations, youth leaders, scientists, artists, policy advocates, and community stewards in a shared effort to protect and regenerate the living systems that sustain us.

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The future of conservation is not simply preserving what remains.

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The future of conservation is helping life return.

And ensuring Indigenous peoples have the power, resources, and authority to lead that return.

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LONG-TERM VISION

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