Land back
Native Hands in Native Lands
Land Back is at the heart of who we are. Our cultures, teachings, and wellbeing are rooted in the lands and waters that have always cared for us—and we continue to care for in return. Land is medicine. It connects us to our First Foods, our ancestors, and the sovereignty that keeps our communities strong.
Building on the vision of E’lip Tilikum (First Peoples) Land Conservancy, we carry forward this commitment through grantee funding, capacity building, and supporting the ecosystem of practitioners leading this work, we help resource the Land Back movement in ways that build long-term, regenerative wealth and community care. We partner with Tribes, Native nonprofits, and allied organizations to identify opportunities, raise capital, and move land back into Indigenous hands—whether in rural homelands or urban neighborhoods.
For us, Land Back isn’t just a goal; it’s a pathway to healing, stewardship, and thriving futures for all our relations.
Participant Highlight:
Indigenous Creatives Collective
“The land itself represents decolonial possibility—it’s designated as a protected natural resource area, serves as both physical gathering space and symbol of Indigenous presence in urban Seattle, and demonstrates that rematriation and active restoration are achievable in contemporary contexts.”
Photo: Ashley K. Frantz
Project Highlight:
Native Neighborhood Community Study
The Native Neighborhood Community Study was led by the sləp̓ iləbəxʷ (Rising Tides) Indigenous Planning Group, with support from NIF, to envision what an urban Native neighborhood in Seattle could look and feel like. Together, we gathered insights from Tribal nations, Native residents, culture-keepers, and community organizations to understand what fosters belonging, safety, cultural visibility, and self-determination for urban Native people. The study offers a community-rooted vision for a Seattle that honors Indigenous presence, supports cultural and economic thriving, and uplifts Indigenous approaches to planning, placemaking, and long-term community wellbeing.
How to Support Land Back
Land Back is one of the most powerful ways to create regenerative wealth. Returning land to Indigenous stewardship not only addresses generations of dispossession—it opens the door for sustainable economies, restored First Foods, and community-led development. When you give to Land Back, you are helping rebuild the material foundations of Indigenous sovereignty and investing in a future where our communities can thrive on our own terms.
Join us in this movement—stand with the leaders and organizations working to reclaim land, restore balance, and regenerate wealth that lasts far beyond this generation.
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