LAND PRESERVATION

The Cultural Conservancy protects and restores indigenous homelands through:

-the creation of native land trusts and supporting tribal land acquisition efforts

-by producing trainings and workshops for native communities on land trusts and other land protection tools such as conservation easements

-negotiating co-management agreements with federal and state agencies

If we take care
of our Mother Earth, she will take care
of us

For native peoples, natural resources are cultural resources. They are one and the same because the land is where ancestors are buried and particular plants and animals are food sources as well as sources of healing materials, religious symbols, and characters in myths and stories.

There is a long tradition of using specific places, at certain times of the year, to harvest foods for sustenance, to gather together to celebrate harvests,and to conduct ceremonies.

Tragically, Native Americans today own and manage only 7% of the lands of the United States. California Indians own and manage less than one half of one percent (0.005%) of the rich lands of California.