Stories

Stories of Indigenous Guardianship

Feature

Sonic Journey Five: Pili Ka Moʻo

This is the story at the heart of our latest Sonic Journey. We’re sharing the story of the Fukumitsu family who is protecting their land -- their ‘āina -- through the Emmy Award-winning film “Pili Ka Moʻo”.

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Article

March 4, 2024

Part I: The Sepik Peoples' years-long battle to halt mining along the Frieda River in Papua New Guinea

Nancy Kelsey

This article is the first in a two-part series about the years-long battle faced by the Sepik Peoples to halt the construction of a gold and copper mine on the Frieda River, an upper tributary of the Sepik River.

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Sepik Peoples rowing on a boat along the Sepik River.

Article

March 4, 2024

Part II: The Fight for Free, Prior and Informed Consent for the Indigenous Peoples along the Sepik River

Nancy Kelsey

This article is the second in a two-part series about the years-long battle faced by the Sepik Peoples to halt the construction of a gold and copper mine on the Frieda River, an upper tributary of the Sepik River.

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Forest Coverage in the Upper Cuyuni Region close to the Guyana-Venezuela Border. Credit: Amerindian People Association (APA)

Article

February 29, 2024

Essequibo: How the Tensions between Venezuela and Guyana are Affecting Indigenous Peoples

Though tensions have diminished since last December, the threat of a dispute on Guyana’s border with Venezuela intensifies the conflicts that Indigenous Peoples in Guyana are already experiencing.

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Podcast

February 28, 2024

Sonic Journey Four: Ma's House

Seedcast

In our latest Sonic Journey, join us on the lands of the Shinnecock Nation, which have been cared for by the Shinnecock People for over 10,000 years.

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Film still from SÜKÜJALA TEI directed by David Hernández Palmar (Wayuu). Photo courtesy of Reciprocity Project.

Podcast

February 14, 2024

Sonic Journey Three: SŪKŪJULA TEI (Stories of My Mother)

Seedcast

Who’s ready for a little Indigenous joy, knowledge, and inspiration? We’re starting Seedcast Season Four with deep listening, as a powerful way to witness one another.

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Policy apprentices group picture at UNPFII, April 2023

Article

February 2, 2024

Centering Indigenous Rights in Global Policy: A Year of Advocacy

2023 was a defining period in advancing Indigenous rights within global policy forums.

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RPS107 Pili Ka Moo BTS1 Kolea Shows Kalo To Camera

Podcast

January 31, 2024

Coming Soon: Seedcast Season 4 – An Invitation to Listen

Seedcast

We can’t believe that we are kicking off Season 4 of Seedcast on February 14! And with so much chaos and noise around us, we’re going to start off this season by getting grounded and listening to Indigenous song and language.

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Filming GATH & K’IYH in honor of king salmon and birch trees, in Alaska near the Boreal Trail. (From left to right: Tracy Rector, Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Yo-Yo Ma and Adeline Peter Raboff). Photo courtesy Reciprocity Project

Article

December 21, 2023

Joy is an Act of Reciprocity

By Tracy Rector, Managing Director, Storytelling

Family, community, and deep connections to land, language, spirituality, and culture are invaluable sources of joy and strength for many global Indigenous Peoples who are reclaiming and reshaping their stories about Indigenous life.

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Sending light this winter solstice 2023. Graphic Design by Joel Schomberg

Podcast

December 20, 2023

Sending Light This Winter Solstice

Seedcast

Here in the northern hemisphere, as the winter solstice approaches, the light is changing quickly, and the sun sits lower on the horizon with each passing day.

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Indigenous women from Brazil marched at COP28, symbolically advocating for Indigenous rights in climate negotiations. Credit: Estevam Rafael/Presidência do Brasil.

Article

December 20, 2023

Indigenous Peoples Demand Effective Participation and Justice in the COP28 Energy Transition

The summit in Dubai was marked by Indigenous Peoples voicing shared concerns and promoting climate solutions based on traditional knowledge.

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Kin Theory team members at imagineNATIVE 2023

Article

December 12, 2023

My Year of Kinship

By Victoria Cheyenne

My Year of Kinship by Victoria Cheyenne

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Indigenous person holds Annatto seed. Amazonia, Brazil. Photo by Kamikia Kisedje

Article

December 9, 2023

Stop Marginalizing Indigenous Knowledge in Climate Negotiations

By Valérie Courtois and Chris Filardi

Indigenous Peoples are living the change that all recent scientific reports call for; this provides a baseline for policymakers and governments at COP 28.

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Training program supported by Nia Tero ended with a face-to-face session at the margins of COP28 in Dubai

Article

December 8, 2023

COP28: Indigenous Guardians Engage in Training to Advocate for their Rights

To ensure emerging Indigenous leaders like Jacinta succeed in their efforts at COP28, Nia Tero has supported a training initiative.

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Tyson Chief Mountain

Podcast

December 6, 2023

The Sacred Essence of Blackfoot Culture

Seedcast

In Blackfoot Territory, a powerful people is in relationship with a powerful place. At the Continental Divide, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains leap out from prairies that stretch out flat for what feels like forever.

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Amazonia Surimane Leader looking at the forest

Film

November 30, 2023

Amazonia Leadership Fellowship 2023

Emerging Indigenous leaders from the Amazon region have come together as the second cohort of Nia Tero's Leadership Fellows Program in Amazonia for 2023.

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LAC caucus at Latin American Climate Week 2023

Article

November 28, 2023

Indigenous Peoples Worldwide Call for Inclusion in The Climate Debate

Ahead of COP28, regional representatives gathered in Panama, Malaysia, and Nairobi to demand more financing to support Indigenous Guardianship.

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Seeds inside hands of three persons

Podcast

November 22, 2023

Spotlight: The Native Seed Pod - Indigenous Food Warriors with Chef Crystal Wahpepah

Seedcast

“If you want to talk about the Indigenous Food Warrior, that's what we all are. We're here to protect. We're here to give. We're here to heal.” - Chef Crystal Wahpepah (Kickapoo)

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Fellows with the Tutu Kampu community and local chief Same in Wayana territory, Suriname.

Article

November 17, 2023

Emergent Indigenous Leaders Share Aspirations at the Leadership Fellows Program in the Amazon

Participants from Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, and Suriname have come together to enhance leadership development and succession in their communities.

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Photo Credit Mel Ponder for UTOPIA Washington

Podcast

November 8, 2023

‘Weʻve Become Paolo for Everyone’: Creating UTOPIA for Queer and Trans Pacific Islanders

Seedcast

“I'm sacred, the next person is sacred, and all life is sacred. That connection we have to each other and to all forms of life is sacred and must be cherished."

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Riverboat trapped on a sandbank during one of the worst droughts ever recorded in the Brazilian Amazon.

Article

November 3, 2023

Historic Drought Threatens Indigenous Lives and Ecosystems in the Amazon

In the Brazilian Amazon, an ongoing historic drought poses a significant threat to Indigenous Peoples, local communities and entire ecosystems.

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Directors of film Tuhaymani’chi Pal Waniqa’ (The Water Flows Always) in their home land, the Mojave Desert

Podcast

October 25, 2023

Tuhaymani'chi Pal Waniqa (The Water Flows Always) in the Mojave Desert

Seedcast

For this episode of Seedcast, let’s meet in the Mojave Desert in a spot where we can gaze upon Mamápukaiv, also known as the Old Woman Mountains.

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Jeremy dutcher 1x1

Podcast

October 11, 2023

Wolastoqey Sounds Like This: Jeremy Dutcher - Live On KEXP

Seedcast

Today we’re listening to music that is an act of language revitalization and a crafted response to the crises we collectively face.

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Gathering outside the Seattle City Center Jeremy Dutcher and Nia Tero Fellows

Article

October 5, 2023

Indigenous Language is Land, is Sovereignty

Michelle Hurtubise

Kin Theory brings musician Jeremy Dutcher and Nia Tero Fellows together with KEXP at the 2023 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).

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Current Trending Topics

Sonic Journey Five: Pili Ka Moʻo

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Sonic Journey Four: Ma's House

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Film still from SÜKÜJALA TEI directed by David Hernández Palmar (Wayuu). Photo courtesy of Reciprocity Project.

Sonic Journey Three: SŪKŪJULA TEI (Stories of My Mother)

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RPS107 Pili Ka Moo BTS1 Kolea Shows Kalo To Camera

Coming Soon: Seedcast Season 4 – An Invitation to Listen

Listen

See all Seedcast

Policy apprentices group picture at UNPFII, April 2023

Centering Indigenous Rights in Global Policy: A Year of Advocacy

Read

Indigenous women from Brazil marched at COP28, symbolically advocating for Indigenous rights in climate negotiations. Credit: Estevam Rafael/Presidência do Brasil.

Indigenous Peoples Demand Effective Participation and Justice in the COP28 Energy Transition

Read

LAC caucus at Latin American Climate Week 2023

Indigenous Peoples Worldwide Call for Inclusion in The Climate Debate

Read

Session during the 54th UN Human Rights Council happening in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room in Geneva (UNOG). Photo: Nia Tero

The Voices of Indigenous Women Were Heard at the 2023 UN Human Rights Council

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Wayfinders Circle

Directors of film Tuhaymani’chi Pal Waniqa’ (The Water Flows Always) in their home land, the Mojave Desert

Tuhaymani'chi Pal Waniqa (The Water Flows Always) in the Mojave Desert

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Lauren Monroe Jr speaking during the Wayfinders Circle Gathering on Blackfeet Territory Montana with Chief Mountain in the background 1x1

The Blackfoot Confederacy Hosts Members of the Wayfinders Circle

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View of the Blackfeet Ceremonial Summer Camp 2023

Reconnecting with the Sacred: A Visit to the Blackfeet Ceremonial Summer Camp

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Sungai Utik Indonesian Land Seedcast episode

The Omen Birds Still Sing in Sungai Utik

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See all Wayfinders Circle