November is Native American Heritage Month. This month, MCE is celebrating by acknowledging the significant contributions and leadership of Indigenous peoples in the fight for environmental action and more sustainable and regenerative practices.

California Indian Environmental Alliance (CIEA)

The nonprofit California Indian Environmental Alliance was established in El Cerrito in 2006 by California Tribal representatives. It advocates to protect and restore Indigenous traditions and environmental health. CIEA empowers Indigenous communities to practice subsistence fishing cultures and supports tribal self-advocacy and native youth environmental leadership.

Idle No More SF Bay 

Idle No More SF Bay was founded in 2013 to support a more sustainable and healthier environment and advocate for Indigenous rights. The organization is led by Native American women and includes Native and non-Native grassroots volunteers dedicated to climate change activism. Idle No More SF Bay advocates for the environment through nonviolent local gatherings, teach-ins, Indigenous leadership, and collaboration with other environmentally focused groups.

Indigenous Environmental Network

The Indigenous Environmental Network is a grassroots alliance of Indigenous peoples. The organization was established in 1990 with the mission of addressing environmental and economic justice issues and adhering to Indigenous knowledge. The alliance addresses environmental justice issues by organizing campaigns for action, policy change, and public awareness and by providing support and resources to empower Indigenous communities.

The Cultural Conservancy

The Cultural Conservancy is a Native-led nonprofit organization based in the Bay Area and founded in 1985. The Cultural Conservancy collaborates with Indigenous communities across the country with the mission to protect and restore Indigenous cultures and empower them with traditional knowledge to protect the environment. Initiatives include land stewardship to restore ecological health and strengthen native food systems and support of Indigenous art and media to share intergenerational environmental wisdom.

Visit native-land.ca to learn about Indigenous territories, languages, and treaties in your region.