Stories

Stories of Indigenous Guardianship

THRIVING PEOPLES. THRIVING PLACES. Indigenous women leaders portrait artwork wildposting on the street in New York City, NY, USA in 2021.

Feature

Celebrating Indigenous Women as Leaders for Their Peoples and the Planet

Every September 5th, International Day of Indigenous Women celebrates the vital role of Indigenous women leaders for their communities, the ecosystems they inhabit, and, ultimately, all life on Earth.

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Explore our Stories by Media Type

Article

August 31, 2023

‘Holding back the sky’: Indigenous Peoples’ land rights are under threat in Brazil

By Nara Baré

In the Brazilian Senate this August, politicians are debating a bill whose logic can only be followed if you know nothing about the past 60 years of Brazilian history.

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Nara Bare 16x9
Diiyeghan naii Taii Treedaa Trailer picture

Podcast

August 30, 2023

Sonic Journey One: Diiyeghan naii Taii Tr’eedaa

Seedcast

“I’ll always remember my grandfather’s stories... about what it means to be a Gwich'in person. We want our children to live like our Ancestors.” - Alisha Carlson, in Gwich’in

Listen

View of the Blackfeet Ceremonial Summer Camp 2023

Article

August 18, 2023

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

Michael Painter, Managing Director, Programs

From July 19-25, 2023, Nia Tero's Blackfeet Nation partners held their annual summer circle camp outside Browning, Montana. It is an important time of the year when the Blackfeet Nation comes together to renew their sacred connections to the world.

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NT Web Seed Cast Spotlight Feature Solidarity Index2 16x9

Podcast

August 16, 2023

Spotlight: The Solidarity Index – Korina Emmerich

Seedcast

The Seedcast podcast's latest Spotlight comes from the amazing team behind The Solidarity Index, and they’re sharing their conversation with Indigenous fashion designer and community builder Korina Emmerich (Puyallup).

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Printmaking with hand pulling up graphic

Article

August 9, 2023

Nia Tero’s Pacific Northwest (PNW) Art Fellowship Gathers In-Person on Coast Salish Territory in Seattle, Washington

Tracy Rector and Michelle Hurtubise

The 2023 cohort of Nia Tero's Pacific Northwest (PNW) Art Fellowship gather for the first time on Coast Salish Territory this August. Learn more about the program and gathering, as well as vibrant work of the artists in this fellowship.

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Back view of a person wearing a cedar hat with blurred people in the background

Article

August 7, 2023

Celebrating Global Indigenous Cultures

Reflections from the Storytelling Team

This August, people around the world will commemorate International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples to celebrate global Indigenous cultures, knowledge, and achievements.

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Director Brit Hensel with her camera gear

Podcast

August 2, 2023

ᏙᎯ (Tohi) with Brit Hensel

Seedcast

Seedcast is proud to re-release our third episode ever, an interview with filmmaker Brit Hensel (Cherokee Nation). When first released in December of 2020, our team was just beginning to learn how to produce a podcast.

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C Goldhammer Quilt, Seedcast episode

Podcast

July 19, 2023

Indigenous Sovereignty Begins at Birth: A Conversation with Camie J. Goldhammer

Seedcast

“Pregnancy is a natural time to think about, ‘what is it that I'm going to pass down?’ For most of us, that is culture... our spirituality, our language, our food, and our connection to land.”

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Indigenous peoples and police stand in front of a crowd with signs in Loreto, calling for attention to their demands.

Article

July 10, 2023

Militarization of Indigenous Lands Threatens Indigenous Guardianship

On May 3, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued the "Situation of Human Rights in Peru in the Context of Social Protests" report presenting findings from a working visit held January 11 to 13, 2023. 

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Aboriginal person driving an ATV crossing the Indigenous land

Podcast

July 5, 2023

Spotlight: Lore of the Land - Joe Morrison

Seedcast

Coming from friends in Australia, and we love this opening question offered by Lore of the Land, because for Indigenous Peoples, where you’re from and who your people are is at the center of stewarding the land we are connected to.

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Malocas de Indigenas en aislamiento en el área de la ri Yavari Tapiche ORPIO 2016 16x9

Article

June 23, 2023

Peruvian Congress Shelves Law that Would Put Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation at Risk

Nia Tero and ORPIO

Today the Commission on Decentralization of the Peruvian Congress will debate the proposed Law 3518/2022, that would weaken the law that protects Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact in the Peruvian Amazon.

Read

Seedcast Episode - Celestial Wayfinding and Pili Ka Mo’o with Justyn Ah Chong

Podcast

June 21, 2023

Celestial Wayfinding and Pili Ka Mo’o with Justyn Ah Chong

Seedcast

“This Earth is an island, just like we inhabit Hawai’i as an island. Island mentality [is] that you live in this place that's confined in geography and limited in resources."

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Indonesian person in a Sungai Utik forest, in the Indonesian province of Kalimantan on the island of Borneo

Podcast

June 7, 2023

The Omen Birds Still Sing in Sungai Utik

Seedcast

“The land is our mother. The forest is our father. And the river is our blood.” Today we share a story of an Indigenous people who fought for their forest.

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Illustration of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira with text honoring their memory. Art by Cristiano Siqueira

Article

June 5, 2023

One Year After the Murders of Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips, the Javari Valley Remains Under Threat

Monday, June 5th, marks one year since the brutal murders of our friend, the Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, and of Dom Phillips, a British journalist, in a remote area of the Amazon rainforest – the Vale do Javari. Read the latest developments.

Read

Seedcast Episode - Spotlight: 5 Plain Questions with Jeffrey Gibson

Podcast

May 24, 2023

Spotlight: 5 Plain Questions – Jeffrey Gibson

Seedcast

5 Plain Questions is a podcast that poses 5 general questions to Indigenous artists, creators, musicians, writers, movers and shakers, and culture bearers. 5 Plain Questions is produced by Plains Art Museum and edited by Eleven Warrior Arts LLC.

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Laura George and Puyr Tembé stand together in front of the United Nations in New York City during the 22nd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Film

May 18, 2023

Reforesting Our Minds: Indigenous Messages and Presence at the 22nd UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

At the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Indigenous leaders from around the world shared messages on the significance of this gathering of Indigenous Peoples, as well as goals and takeaways.

Watch

Two people walk in the desert at a distance.

Film

May 18, 2023

Tuhaymani’chi Pal Waniqa’ (The Water Flows Always) Trailer

Wayfinders Circle

In this film from Wayfinders Circle, a father and daughter seek to reconnect with the sacred springs of the Mojave Desert, just as a multibillion-dollar water mining project threatens their very existence.

Watch

Amazonia Tree Tops

Article

May 17, 2023

Celebrating the Relationship Between Indigenous Guardianship & Biodiversity

Nia Tero Policy Team

Today, on International Day for Biological Diversity, let's take a closer look at the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and how protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples also supports Earth’s biodiversity.

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Seattle International Film Festival May 20 2023

Article

May 15, 2023

New Film “Tuhaymani'chi Pal Waniqa” (The Water Flows Always) to Make World Premiere at 2023 Seattle International Film Festival

In the first of a series of global films highlighting Indigenous Peoples from the Wayfinders Circle, water and culture bring together a father and daughter as they fight to protect their Indigenous homelands in Southern California.

Read

Rev Yearwood and Leo Cerda at CU Climate Wk in New York 2022

Podcast

May 10, 2023

“No Climate Justice Without Racial Justice:” Rev. Yearwood and Leo Cerda with Tracy Rector

Seedcast

In this new episode of Seedcast, we’re asserting joy about Black and Indigenous solidarity work in the climate justice movement.

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Eric Terena portrait 16x9

Podcast

April 26, 2023

DJ Eric Terena: Sons Coletivos para Uma Nova Era

Seedcast

Na esteira de uma mudança política no Brasil em direção à justiça ambiental e aos direitos indígenas, o ativista e DJ Eric Terena (do povo indígena Terena) compartilha neste episódio de Seedcast como a música pode contribuir para o bem coletivo.

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United Nations room with people speaking on screen and seated in chairs on the conference room floor.

Article

April 18, 2023

UNPFII Statement from Nia Tero, Tebtebba, and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB)

At the 22nd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Grace Balawag delivered a statement on behalf of Tebtebba, Nia Tero, and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB). Read the full statement and recommendations.

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Seedcast Webbys

Article

April 13, 2023

Indigenous Storytelling Honored by The Webby Awards

SEATTLE, WA (April 12, 2023) – Two Indigenous-made storytelling projects supported by Nia Tero have been honored by the 2023 Webby Awards.

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Diiyeghan naii Taii Treedaa Trailer picture

Sonic Journey One: Diiyeghan naii Taii Tr’eedaa

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Director Brit Hensel with her camera gear

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C Goldhammer Quilt, Seedcast episode

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Indigenous peoples and police stand in front of a crowd with signs in Loreto, calling for attention to their demands.

Militarization of Indigenous Lands Threatens Indigenous Guardianship

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Malocas de Indigenas en aislamiento en el área de la ri Yavari Tapiche ORPIO 2016 16x9

Peruvian Congress Shelves Law that Would Put Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation at Risk

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Laura George and Puyr Tembé stand together in front of the United Nations in New York City during the 22nd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Reforesting Our Minds: Indigenous Messages and Presence at the 22nd UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

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Amazonia Tree Tops

Celebrating the Relationship Between Indigenous Guardianship & Biodiversity

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Wayfinders Circle

View of the Blackfeet Ceremonial Summer Camp 2023

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

Read

Indonesian person in a Sungai Utik forest, in the Indonesian province of Kalimantan on the island of Borneo

The Omen Birds Still Sing in Sungai Utik

Listen

Two people walk in the desert at a distance.

Tuhaymani’chi Pal Waniqa’ (The Water Flows Always) Trailer

Watch

Seattle International Film Festival May 20 2023

New Film “Tuhaymani'chi Pal Waniqa” (The Water Flows Always) to Make World Premiere at 2023 Seattle International Film Festival

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