Our Stories
Introducing Maria Azhunova, Indigenous Futures Society’s new Board Member
February 20, 2026
Indigenous Futures Society was pleased to welcome this February new Board Member Maria Azhunova. Maria Azhunova is a Buryat-Mongol Indigenous conservationist from the Lake Baikal region in Siberia, of Ekhirit and Sagaan/Khongoodor clans. Sacred to Buryat-Mongolian peoples, Lake Baikal is known as a living ancestor and source of life and is celebrated asRead MoreWelcome our new Board Member, Austin Stevenot
October 25, 2025
Indigenous Futures Society was pleased to welcome last October new Board Member Austin Stevenot. Austin Stevenot (Northern Sierra Mewuk) is a registered member of the California Valley Miwok Tribe, a cultural practitioner, and a restoration leader. He serves as Director of Tribal Engagement at River Partners, where he builds long-term guardianship-basedRead MoreGet to know our Nation Builders Council – Introducing Sadie Hampshire!
September 12, 2025
IFS is still looking for 18-30 year old Sierra Nevada Indigenous young adults to join the "Nation Builders" cohort at the Sierra Nevada Tribal Summit on Lake Tahoe, Oct. 17-19. Email Ariel for details - [email protected]. Get to know our Nation Builders Council - introducing Sadie Hampshire - a memberRead MoreIntroducing Indigenous Futures Society
May 15, 2025
We are proud to share that, as of May 2025, The Sierra Fund is now Indigenous Futures Society. A name that reflects our values, leadership, and the future we are building alongside and led by Indigenous communities to catalyze transformative change in the Sierra Bioregion for the benefit of allRead MoreBig News! The Sierra Fund Welcomes Matthew Moore (Nisenan-Washoe) as Program Executive
January 23, 2025
We are thrilled to announce that Matthew Moore, a distinguished member of the Nisenan and Washoe communities, has joined The Sierra Fund as our Program Executive alongside Rebecca Allen, Ph.D. Matthew brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his new role. A former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the United Auburn IndianRead MoreCHIRP’s Deer Creek Tribute Trail Segment Open to Public
December 19, 2024
Partners Celebrated Completion of Trail at Ribbon Cutting Ceremony On December 6, 2024, The California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP) opened to the public a new 4,600-foot segment of the Deer Creek Tribute Trail that crosses their property. CHIRP and The Sierra Fund hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for key partners marking the officialRead MoreExpanding Indigenous-Led Climate & Emergency Disaster Preparedness in the Sierra: A Collaborative Initiative with FNESS
November 25, 2024
Wildfire is a naturally occurring and vital part of our ecosystems and has become increasingly frequent, intense, and destructive in California. With climate change exacerbating past problematic forest management and wildfires intensifying, Indigenous communities are at the forefront of both the challenges and the solutions. Many tribal lands have notRead MoreWebinar and Radio Interview Recordings about The Sierra Fund’s Recent Transformation Now Available
November 4, 2024
It’s hard to believe only a month and a half ago The Sierra Fund announced its transition to becoming an Indigenous-led nonprofit fully dedicated to the Sierra Nevada region. During that time, we have been busy sharing our new mission to elevate Indigenous place-based wisdom, leadership, and guardianship to achieveRead MoreCelebrating Indigenous Guardianship: Highlights from the Sierra Nevada Tribal Summit
November 4, 2024
From October 7 to 9, 2024, the Sierra Nevada Tribal Summit on Indigenous Guardianship had terrific participation and brought together an inspiring array of Indigenous voices, ideas, and cultural traditions in a powerful showcase of Indigenous leadership and community for the Sierra bioregion. Held at the Shingle Springs Band ofRead MoreThe Sierra Fund Just Metamorphosed!!
September 18, 2024
We are Now An Indigenous Led Organization with a new Mission for Sustainable Conservation and Community Resilience The Sierra Fund proudly announces that we just elected an Indigenous majority onto our Board of Directors and hired Brian Wallace (Washoe/Nisenan) as our new Chief Executive Officer to become an Indigenous ledRead More