Focus Area

Environmental Sovereignty and Justice

Through the Environmental Sovereignty and Justice Initiative, First Nations provides direct funding and technical assistance to Tribes and Native-led organizations that are defending tribal homelands from harmful policies, extraction, and pollution. Foremost, this project is centered on supporting Tribes and Native communities to protect their health, traditions, and values. Both tribal and grassroots strategies are valued and uplifted under the Initiative.

This Initiative supports Tribal Sovereignty through capacity building that can enable development and enforcement of tribal codes; exertion of reserved and retained rights and off-reservation treaty rights; representation in federal, state, regional, and local advisory groups; and litigation. Direct support of community-led initiatives, such as grassroots organizing, community outreach and education, testimony, and protest are also supported.

Projects under this initiative are possible thanks to generous contributions from Patagonia and other anonymous and individual donors.

Awarded Grants

2025

Moving Kawerak-Region Tribal Research Protocols and Priorities Forward

2025 Moving Kawerak-Region Tribal Research Protocols and Priorities Forward

$50,000
Kawerak, Incorporated ak Created with Sketch. Nome, AK

Description

Our project will support the time of Kawerak's Tribal Research Coordinator create, distribute, and promote the Tribal Research Protocols and the newly developed Research Priorities of Kawerak-region Tribes to enhance Tribal Research Sovereignty..

2025

Save Oak Flat

2025 Save Oak Flat

$50,000
Apache Stronghold az Created with Sketch. San Carlos, AZ

Description

We connect Apache people and other Native and non-Native allies to protect Chi’chil Biłdagoteel (also known as Oak Flat), a sacred site for Apache people and many other Indigenous people, from copper mining.

2025

Opposing Helium Extraction and Hydrogen Pipelines on Navajo Nation

2025 Opposing Helium Extraction and Hydrogen Pipelines on Navajo Nation

$25,000
Dooda (No) Helium Extraction Organization nm Created with Sketch. Shiprock, NM

Description

Our project's purpose is to stop helium extraction and a hydrogen pipeline in our communities on the Navajo reservation.

2025

Enhancing Collaborative Research and Use of Traditional Knowledge in Fisheries Management; Developing a Tribally-led Subsistence Food Security Monitoring Program/Policy

2025 Enhancing Collaborative Research and Use of Traditional Knowledge in Fisheries Management; Developing a Tribally-led Subsistence Food Security Monitoring Program/Policy

$57,000
Aleut Community of St. Paul Island ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Description

This project will advance collaborative fisheries research through the promotion and advocacy of the use of Skipper Science with fishery partners, and create and implement a policy for a subsistence food security monitoring program.

2025

Protect Sacred Lands from Lithium Mining in the McDermitt Caldera

2025 Protect Sacred Lands from Lithium Mining in the McDermitt Caldera

$27,500
People of Red Mountain nv Created with Sketch. Reno, NV

Description

People of Red Mountain (Atsa Koodakuh wyh Nuwu, in Paiute) is a committee of traditional knowledge keepers and descendants of the Fort McDermitt Paiute, Shoshone and Bannock Tribes working in coalition with allies to protect our ancestral homelands.

2025

Protecting Ancestral Wisdom: Building Cultural Centers for the preservation of the Esto’k Gna Tribe (Phase II)

2025 Protecting Ancestral Wisdom: Building Cultural Centers for the preservation of the Esto’k Gna Tribe (Phase II)

$50,000
Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas tx Created with Sketch. Floresville, TX

Description

The Protecting Ancestral Wisdom project will preserve, maintain, protect and offer services that better our tribal lands and communities to overcome the erasure of the Original People of Texas - the Esto’k Gna.

2024

Tagiuq Inuuniagvikput (“Sea of Our Sustenance”)

2024 Tagiuq Inuuniagvikput (“Sea of Our Sustenance”)

$75,000
Bering Sea Elders Group ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Description

This project will support Bering Sea Elders Group reach the strategic vision outlined in our 2023-2028 strategic plan. This project will enhance the organization’s capacity to implement our strategic goals by supporting BSEG’s Elder Representatives participate in the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area (NBSCRA) work.

2023

Building community strength through knowledge transfer and subsistence trainings

2023 Building community strength through knowledge transfer and subsistence trainings

$25,000
Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska ak Created with Sketch. Unalaska, AK

Description

Building community strength through knowledge transfer and subsistence trainings

2023

Taġiuq Iñuuniaġvikput (“Sea of Our Sustenance”)

2023 Taġiuq Iñuuniaġvikput (“Sea of Our Sustenance”)

$75,000
Bering Sea Elders Group ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Community Partners

Inter-Tribal

Description

This project will increase capacity for Bering Sea Elders Group with dedicated funding to implement strategic goals, including travel for Executive Committee trainings and upcoming Summit, communications planning and fund development planning, as well as items such as the creation of financial and other organizational policies.

2023

Kahanu Lauaʻe

2023 Kahanu Lauaʻe

$50,000
Hui Maka'ainana o Makana hi Created with Sketch. Hanalei, HI

Community Partners

Other

Description

This program creates educational initiatives to teach the skills, knowledge, and practices of our kūpuna through interpretation, restoration, care, conservation, and protection of natural and cultural resources in Hāʻena, Kauaʻi. We are actively shaping current and future generations of conservationists, ʻāina stewards, cultural practitioners, and community advocates.

2023

Tribal Voices of the Bering Sea Region

2023 Tribal Voices of the Bering Sea Region

$50,000
Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal Consortium ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Description

Initiate conversation and community engagement to explore issues, challenges, and solutions to addressing preservation of Bering Sea marine resources.

2023

Elevating youth engagement in Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge of Bering Sea resources

2023 Elevating youth engagement in Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge of Bering Sea resources

$21,555
Aleut Community of St. Paul Island ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Community Partners

Pribilof Islands Aleut Communities of St. Paul & St. George Islands

Description

This project will increase tribal environmental asset control on or near Native lands.

2022

Building our Bering Sea Cultural Affiliation to protect the Bering Sea

2022 Building our Bering Sea Cultural Affiliation to protect the Bering Sea

$50,000
Atux̂ Forever: Restoring Attuans' Freedom ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Community Partners

Other

Description

Initiate conversation and community engagement to explore issues, challenges, and solutions to addressing preservation of Bering Sea marine resources.

2022

Strengthening Organization and Indigenous Representation in Polar Bear Management

2022 Strengthening Organization and Indigenous Representation in Polar Bear Management

$50,000
Alaska Nannut Co-Management Council ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Community Partners

Inter-Tribal

Description

Initiate conversation and community engagement to explore issues, challenges, and solutions to addressing preservation of Bering Sea marine resources.

2022

2022 Bering Sea Ecosystem Initiative

2022 2022 Bering Sea Ecosystem Initiative

$50,000
Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Tribal Consortium ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Community Partners

Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council

Description

Initiate conversation and community engagement to explore issues, challenges, and solutions to addressing preservation of Bering Sea marine resources.

2022

Elevating Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge to inform management and protect Bering Sea resources

2022 Elevating Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge to inform management and protect Bering Sea resources

$50,000
Aleut Community of St. Paul Island ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Community Partners

Saint Paul Island

Description

Initiate conversation and community engagement to explore issues, challenges, and solutions to addressing preservation of Bering Sea marine resources.

2022

Increasing Indigenous engagement in the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council process

2022 Increasing Indigenous engagement in the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council process

$50,000
Kawerak, Incorporated ak Created with Sketch. Nome, AK

Community Partners

Inter-Tribal

Description

Initiate conversation and community engagement to explore issues, challenges, and solutions to addressing preservation of Bering Sea marine resources.

2022

Increasing Indigenous leadership for creative solutions to issues impacting the Bering Sea marine ecosystem and its resources

2022 Increasing Indigenous leadership for creative solutions to issues impacting the Bering Sea marine ecosystem and its resources

$40,000
Aleut Community of St. Paul Island ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Community Partners

Saint Paul Island

Description

Initiate conversation and community engagement to explore issues, challenges, and solutions to addressing preservation of Bering Sea marine resources.

2021

Protecting the Northern Bering Sea & Bering Strait

2021 Protecting the Northern Bering Sea & Bering Strait

$35,000
Bering Sea Elders Group ak Created with Sketch. Anchorage, AK

Community Partners

Inter-Tribal

Description

This project will increase tribal environmental asset control on or near Native lands.