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    We invite you to join the pilot series of gatherings for the First Stewards Network — a space for practitioners working in Indigenous land protection, stewardship and land back initiatives across private landscapes in North America, co-hosted by the Land Trust Alliance and Native Americans in Philanthropy.

    What we're building together

    The goal of the network is to provide space for leaders working in Indigenous land conservation to gather for honoring cultural connections to land, building relationships, creating collaborative impact and sharing knowledge about land access, return and stewardship. This monthly virtual network will provide structured and open-ended opportunities for connection, including but not limited to:

    • Peer learning and support from practitioners of Indigenous conservation across the United States through an inviting environment for professionals to share ideas, experiences, projects and strategies.

    • Practical resource sharing, including legal tools, funding strategies and policy guidance that have been developed by Indigenous practitioners and their allies, with an emphasis on legal and public/private land frameworks.

    • Cultural grounding through storytelling and knowledge sharing.

    • Capacity building on everything from starting an Indigenous land trust to navigating current conservation regulations.

    • Collective power to advance land protection and rematriation efforts.

    Audience and eligibility

    Is this right for you?

    This space is created for those who are engaged in Indigenous land conservation, stewardship and community leadership through land trusts and other non-public land conservation mechanisms. To respect the integrity of this space, we ask that participation be limited to individuals who:

    1. Are working on behalf of a Tribe, Indigenous land trust or Indigenous-led conservation non-profit, OR,

    2. Are working or volunteering in a role that is primarily focused on Indigenous land conservation.

    Space is limited. We encourage those who do not fit the criteria above but are interested in building their knowledge and skills to work on projects with Indigenous partners to explore the suggested self-paced training and other resources highlighted on our Resource Center.

    The Land Trust Alliance and Native Americans in Philanthropy are co-hosting this network, prioritizing Indigenous knowledge systems, healing and relational accountability while also sharing concrete tools and strategies. We are excited to be working with Indigenous facilitators from Mending Mountains Collective, LLC, to ensure that the virtual sessions are productive, focused and meaningful. The partners hosted three focus groups in the summer of 2025, which included participants from past programming and other Indigenous conservation professionals working at or with land trusts. These conversations, together with other feedback, have informed the launch of this network.

    The network is intended to be a space co-hosted by the Land Trust Alliance but not led by the Alliance. The Alliance recognizes its role as a predominantly Western conservation nonprofit operating in a field that has regularly excluded Indigenous voices and knowledge. As such, the Alliance has committed the time, administrative and logistical support to help launch this network, while supporting Indigenous participants in shaping their own network. In partnership with Native Americans in Philanthropy and the Mending Mountains Collective, we hope this space can adapt to meet the specific needs of network participants as we build it together.

    Land access and return approaches and tools for Indigenous land trusts and organizations.

    Land stewardship planning and strategies.

    Fundraising and connections to funders.

    Community engagement and partnership building.

    Solidarity and healing.

    … and more!

    Schedule

    The network anticipates meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month at 2:30-4 p.m. Eastern (90 minutes) on the following dates:

    • May 28

    • July 23

    • Aug. 27

    • Oct. 22

    • Nov. 19

    Register

    Network participation agreement

    By joining this network, I agree to the Land Trust Alliance’s code of conduct. I also agree to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive traditional knowledge and community information shared during sessions.

    Your completed registration form will be reviewed and you will be notified if you are accepted to participate in the Network.

    Questions?

    Reach out.

    Forrest King-Cortes

    email

    Jessa Rae Growing Thunder

    email

    This network is developed in response to Indigenous conservation practitioners' expressed needs for peer connection, resource sharing and collective action in land protection work. We honor the diverse Indigenous nations, communities and territories represented in this network while recognizing our shared commitment to protecting and returning Indigenous lands.