Stewardship of Ancestral Lands and Waters

Each community differs in its approach; examples include mapping land bases, managing land donations, fighting for water rights, and incorporating traditional ecological knowledge on land formerly under tribal control.

Projects

Access to Ancestral Lands

This project is designed to help strengthen California-based Indigenous stewardship and protection of ancestral lands. As part of the project and made possible through the support of the Elizabeth R. ...

Stewardship of Ancestral Lands and Waters

California Tribal Fund Webinars

With the recent signing of bills, including Assembly Bill 1180, which adds federally recognized California Indian tribes to the list of agencies offered a right of first refusal when purchasing surpl...

Staff

Ella Kohler

Program Officer, California Tribal Fund

Sac and Fox Nation Tribe of Oklahoma

Donald “Squiggie” Salcedo

Lead Program Officer, California Tribal Fund

Quechan Nation/Pueblo of Laguna

Rebecca Tortes

Director, California Tribal Fund

Cahuilla, Payómkawichum, and Assiniboine Sioux

Impact Stories

Mooretown Rancheria Leads with Tribal Expertise

Protecting the Climate, Healing the Environment The Natural Resources Department of the Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California is ideally positioned to ensure that climate resiliency effor...

Digging Deep to Protect the Roots of Native Lands

In January, First Nations’ California Tribal Fund (CTF) hosted a Stewarding Ancestral Lands Gathering to strengthen connections and build capacity for California-based Native stewardship and pro...