The Sierra Fund is now doing business as: Indigenous Futures Society!

Introducing 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 all living beings and future generations. 

For over two decades, The Sierra Fund (TSF) has been a trusted advocate for environmental and community health in California’s Sierra Nevada. Founded with a vision of protecting the region’s rich natural and cultural resources, TSF has led efforts in environmental health, ecosystem resiliency, mining reform, and policy advocacy. 

TSF’s legacy was made possible by the dedication of many — from our early Board of Directors to our former leaders, including Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, Joan Clayburgh, Dr. Carrie Monohan, and Shawn Garvey, and others who helped build a foundation of integrity, environmental stewardship, and public trust. We extend deep gratitude to everyone who shaped TSF’s journey. Read on here for more information about The Sierra Fund’s profound legacy that Indigenous Futures Society is proud to be born from.  

The Shift to Indigenous Leadership 

The Indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada bioregion, have since time immemorial served as guardians and stewards of the lands, waters and all living beings within this sacred territory. Our ancestors have passed down traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and governance systems that have sustained these ecosystems and our communities for countless generations. We recognize the urgent need to integrate our traditional knowledge with technological innovation to address contemporary challenges of ecological degradation, climate change, and cultural preservation.  

In September 2024, our organization formally transitioned to Indigenous leadership with the appointment of Brian Wallace (Washoe/Nisenan) as CEO. This marked a historic turning point: the organization’s Board of Directors unanimously and voluntarily voted off 5 of its members, and voted on a 75% Indigenous-majority board, and its strategic direction was re-centered around Indigenous values, governance, and knowledge systems. A re-grounding of our work in the land, languages, and leadership of Native peoples. 

Why We Rebranded 

With new Indigenous leadership at the helm, we knew we needed a new name and image to reflect deep, withstanding Indigeneity in the Sierra. The name Indigenous Futures Society and our new logo emerged from conversations of a committee comprised of our Board, staff, Tribal community partners, and trusted advisors. It reflects our belief that ecological restoration and cultural revitalization are inseparable — and that Indigenous leadership is essential to a just and resilient future in the Sierra Nevada. 

Our new visual identity honors this vision: 

The Indigenous Futures Society logo tells a layered story — one rooted in ancestral knowledge and shaped by a vision for the future. At the heart of the design is the merging profiles of an Indigenous person and a bear, symbolizing the sacred connection between Indigenous people and the natural world. This union honors both deep cultural heritage and forward-looking guardianship, reflecting the very purpose of Indigenous Futures Society. 

The red shading along the bear’s neck symbolically evokes the flicker of fire — an element Brian Wallace, our ICEO, describes as the brother of water. Meanwhile, the cascading blue woven through the human’s hair represents flowing water — fire’s sister. Together, these elements speak to balance, kinship, and the essential forces that shape life and ceremony in Indigenous cosmologies. 

The bear is also a quiet act of rematriation — a reclaiming of the California state symbol through an Indigenous lens, restoring meaning to an image too often stripped of its cultural context. The “bear dance” being a unifying shared cultural practice of many Sierra Indigenous Tribes. 

Framing the figures is the moon, reflecting Indigenous sky knowledge, the cycles of nature and time, and the passage of generations. 

Our New Website Is Live! Welcome to Indigenous Futures Society Online 

We’re thrilled to unveil the brand-new Indigenous Futures Society website — a digital home that reflects who we are today: an Indigenous-led nonprofit advancing land, water, and cultural renewal in the Sierra Nevada.  

As you explore our site you will meet our board, staff, and key advisors. You will get to know key areas of our work including our Land and Water Guardianship, Emergency Preparedness and Climate Adaptation, Cultural Ecologies, and Sierra Nevada Tribal Summit programs. You can also stay up to date on our lasting news by visiting the link here or by signing up for our eNews.  

Coming Soon: The Knowledge Basket – A Resource Hub for Shared Wisdom 

At Indigenous Futures Society, we believe that knowledge is not just information — it is relationship, responsibility, and renewal. That’s why we are proud to announce the upcoming launch of The Knowledge Basket, our new online Resource Hub designed to support Indigenous leadership, ecological stewardship, and cultural revitalization across the Sierra Nevada and beyond. 

What’s in the Knowledge Basket? 

The Knowledge Basket is a living, digital space where Native communities, partners, and allies can access knowledge, information, and resources grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing. Just as a woven basket holds food, medicine, and teachings passed from hand to hand, our Knowledge Basket is meant to hold wisdom across generations — both ancestral and emerging. 

Check back in early Summer to explore and contribute to five interconnected hubs designed for and by Indigenous communities: 

  • Grants & Funding 
    Current grant opportunities, funding alerts, and application resources curated to support Tribal programs, nonprofits, and community projects. 
  • The Red Pages: Native Vendor Directory 
    A growing directory of Native-owned businesses, artists, consultants, and service providers — centering Tribal economies and ethical contracting. 
  • Events Calendar 
    Workshops, gatherings, trainings, and cultural events happening across the region and online — all in one place. 
  • Job Board 
    Career opportunities in Tribal organizations, environmental justice, cultural stewardship, and allied fields. 
  • Resource Library 
    Toolkits, templates, articles, policy guides, and multimedia stories that support Indigenous governance, TEK, advocacy, and community resilience. 

Moving Forward, Together 

This is more than a name change. It’s a continuation of our commitment to place — now with renewed purpose, leadership, and belonging. We invite you to join us in supporting Indigenous-led pathways for ecological and cultural renewal. 

With deep respect and hope for the future, 
The Indigenous Futures Society Team 

Introducing Indigenous Futures Society 

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 all living beings and future generations. 

For over two decades, The Sierra Fund (TSF) has been a trusted advocate for environmental and community health in California’s Sierra Nevada. Founded with a vision of protecting the region’s rich natural and cultural resources, TSF has led efforts in environmental health, ecosystem resiliency, mining reform, and policy advocacy. 

TSF’s legacy was made possible by the dedication of many — from our early Board of Directors to our former leaders, including Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, Joan Clayburgh, Dr. Carrie Monohan, and Shawn Garvey, and others who helped build a foundation of integrity, environmental stewardship, and public trust. We extend deep gratitude to everyone who shaped TSF’s journey. Read on here for more information about The Sierra Fund’s profound legacy that Indigenous Futures Society is proud to be born from.  

The Shift to Indigenous Leadership 

The Indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada bioregion, have since time immemorial served as guardians and stewards of the lands, waters and all living beings within this sacred territory. Our ancestors have passed down traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and governance systems that have sustained these ecosystems and our communities for countless generations. We recognize the urgent need to integrate our traditional knowledge with technological innovation to address contemporary challenges of ecological degradation, climate change, and cultural preservation.  

In September 2024, our organization formally transitioned to Indigenous leadership with the appointment of Brian Wallace (Washoe/Nisenan) as CEO. This marked a historic turning point: the organization’s Board of Directors unanimously and voluntarily voted off 5 of its members, and voted on a 75% Indigenous-majority board, and its strategic direction was re-centered around Indigenous values, governance, and knowledge systems. A re-grounding of our work in the land, languages, and leadership of Native peoples. 

Why We Rebranded 

With new Indigenous leadership at the helm, we knew we needed a new name and image to reflect deep, withstanding Indigeneity in the Sierra. The name Indigenous Futures Society and our new logo emerged from conversations of a committee comprised of our Board, staff, Tribal community partners, and trusted advisors. It reflects our belief that ecological restoration and cultural revitalization are inseparable — and that Indigenous leadership is essential to a just and resilient future in the Sierra Nevada. 

Our new visual identity honors this vision: 

The Indigenous Futures Society logo tells a layered story — one rooted in ancestral knowledge and shaped by a vision for the future. At the heart of the design is the merging profiles of an Indigenous person and a bear, symbolizing the sacred connection between Indigenous people and the natural world. This union honors both deep cultural heritage and forward-looking guardianship, reflecting the very purpose of Indigenous Futures Society. 

The red shading along the bear’s neck symbolically evokes the flicker of fire — an element Brian Wallace, our ICEO, describes as the brother of water. Meanwhile, the cascading blue woven through the human’s hair represents flowing water — fire’s sister. Together, these elements speak to balance, kinship, and the essential forces that shape life and ceremony in Indigenous cosmologies. 

The bear is also a quiet act of rematriation — a reclaiming of the California state symbol through an Indigenous lens, restoring meaning to an image too often stripped of its cultural context. The “bear dance” being a unifying shared cultural practice of many Sierra Indigenous Tribes. 

Framing the figures is the moon, reflecting Indigenous sky knowledge, the cycles of nature and time, and the passage of generations. 

Our New Website Is Live! Welcome to Indigenous Futures Society Online 

We’re thrilled to unveil the brand-new Indigenous Futures Society website — a digital home that reflects who we are today: an Indigenous-led nonprofit advancing land, water, and cultural renewal in the Sierra Nevada.  

As you explore our site you will meet our board, staff, and key advisors. You will get to know key areas of our work including our Land and Water Guardianship, Emergency Preparedness and Climate Adaptation, Cultural Ecologies, and Sierra Nevada Tribal Summit programs. You can also stay up to date on our lasting news by visiting the link here or by signing up for our eNews.  

Coming Soon: The Knowledge Basket – A Resource Hub for Shared Wisdom 

At Indigenous Futures Society, we believe that knowledge is not just information — it is relationship, responsibility, and renewal. That’s why we are proud to announce the upcoming launch of The Knowledge Basket, our new online Resource Hub designed to support Indigenous leadership, ecological stewardship, and cultural revitalization across the Sierra Nevada and beyond. 

What’s in the Knowledge Basket? 

The Knowledge Basket is a living, digital space where Native communities, partners, and allies can access knowledge, information, and resources grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing. Just as a woven basket holds food, medicine, and teachings passed from hand to hand, our Knowledge Basket is meant to hold wisdom across generations — both ancestral and emerging. 

Check back in early Summer to explore and contribute to five interconnected hubs designed for and by Indigenous communities: 

  • Grants & Funding 
    Current grant opportunities, funding alerts, and application resources curated to support Tribal programs, nonprofits, and community projects. 
  • The Red Pages: Native Vendor Directory 
    A growing directory of Native-owned businesses, artists, consultants, and service providers — centering Tribal economies and ethical contracting. 
  • Events Calendar 
    Workshops, gatherings, trainings, and cultural events happening across the region and online — all in one place. 
  • Job Board 
    Career opportunities in Tribal organizations, environmental justice, cultural stewardship, and allied fields. 
  • Resource Library 
    Toolkits, templates, articles, policy guides, and multimedia stories that support Indigenous governance, TEK, advocacy, and community resilience. 

Moving Forward, Together 

This is more than a name change. It’s a continuation of our commitment to place — now with renewed purpose, leadership, and belonging. We invite you to join us in supporting Indigenous-led pathways for ecological and cultural renewal. 

With deep respect and hope for the future, 
The Indigenous Futures Society Team