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Celebrating 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 of Miwok Indians (SSBMI) Red Hawk Casino, participant feedback shared the event provided “Inspiration, hope for the future, new connections”

Collaborative Efforts for a Shared Future

The collaborative spirit was palpable throughout the summit, with ongoing support from the Planning Circle—a dedicated group that met bi-weekly for four months. This circle included representatives from SSBMI, the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, The Sierra Fund, the Todd’s Valley Miwok Maidu Cultural Foundation, and the University of California Davis’s Institute for the Environment. It also included support from the Friends of the Inyo Eastern Sierra Tribal Liaison and Sierra Fund Board Member, Joseph Miller, and Cherilyn Ashmead consultant to the Forest Business Alliance. Three cheers for the Planning Circle and their hard work hosting a great event!

Large Engaged Attendance

With 179 participants over three days, the summit was a vibrant gathering of Indigenous voices and allies. Notably, 115 attendees identified as Indigenous, representing 26 Sierra Tribes, as well as other Tribes from the state, nation, and even Canada sharing knowledge. The presence of six esteemed elders added depth and wisdom to the discussions. This intergenerational participation, including families spanning multiple generations—from grandparents to grandchildren—reflecting the Tribal Summit’s commitment to intergenerational transmission of knowledge.

Rich Content and Inspiring Discussions

The summit featured a robust program that included nine informative sessions, a field trip, and a film screening. A total of 48 speakers contributed their insights, with 30 being Tribal members and 18 coming from various allied backgrounds, including agency leaders, academics, and nonprofit representatives. For the full list of speakers and the program visit this link.

The content of the sessions was not only rich but also action oriented. The Tuesday working groups focused on Indigenous place-based solutions, reconciliation efforts, and cultural restoration strategies.

Looking Ahead

As the dust settles from this transformative gathering, the Planning Circle and The Sierra Fund Board and Staff are enthusiastic about the momentum generated during the summit. Plans are already underway to continue the conversations sparked at the event and to turn the ideas developed in the working groups into tangible results. A write-up detailing the recommendations and outcomes from the summit will be released soon with invitation to Indigenous community members of the Sierra to join monthly working group zoom meetings. Working groups will be on:

  • Emergency Services and Community Safety
  • Cultural Ecologies: Language, Food, Culture, and Data Sovereignty
  • Land and Water Guardianship
  • Workforce and Social Investment
  • Reconciliation and Equity

In summary, the Sierra Nevada Tribal Summit on Indigenous Guardianship not only celebrated the rich heritage and knowledge of Indigenous peoples but also paved the way for future collaborations aimed at the well-being of the Sierra Nevada and all its inhabitants. As participants left the summit, they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose and connection—elements vital to the ongoing journey of reconciliation, guardianship, and cultural preservation.

Thanks again to our sponsors! The Summit was made possible thanks to the wide array of generous sponsors: Resources Legacy Fund, Northern Sierra Partnership, Forest Business Alliance/CAL FIRE, Wilton Rancheria, California Tribal Fund, Sierra Business Council, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, Sierra Forest Legacy, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Yuba Water Agency, Truckee Donner Land Trust, and American River Conservancy.

For more details on the summit’s program and initiatives, visit Sierra Tribal Summit.

Celebrating Indigenous Guardianship: Highlights from the Sierra Nevada Tribal Summit

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 of Miwok Indians (SSBMI) Red Hawk Casino, participant feedback shared the event provided “Inspiration, hope for the future, new connections”

Collaborative Efforts for a Shared Future

The collaborative spirit was palpable throughout the summit, with ongoing support from the Planning Circle—a dedicated group that met bi-weekly for four months. This circle included representatives from SSBMI, the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, The Sierra Fund, the Todd’s Valley Miwok Maidu Cultural Foundation, and the University of California Davis’s Institute for the Environment. It also included support from the Friends of the Inyo Eastern Sierra Tribal Liaison and Sierra Fund Board Member, Joseph Miller, and Cherilyn Ashmead consultant to the Forest Business Alliance. Three cheers for the Planning Circle and their hard work hosting a great event!

Large Engaged Attendance

With 179 participants over three days, the summit was a vibrant gathering of Indigenous voices and allies. Notably, 115 attendees identified as Indigenous, representing 26 Sierra Tribes, as well as other Tribes from the state, nation, and even Canada sharing knowledge. The presence of six esteemed elders added depth and wisdom to the discussions. This intergenerational participation, including families spanning multiple generations—from grandparents to grandchildren—reflecting the Tribal Summit’s commitment to intergenerational transmission of knowledge.

Rich Content and Inspiring Discussions

The summit featured a robust program that included nine informative sessions, a field trip, and a film screening. A total of 48 speakers contributed their insights, with 30 being Tribal members and 18 coming from various allied backgrounds, including agency leaders, academics, and nonprofit representatives. For the full list of speakers and the program visit this link.

The content of the sessions was not only rich but also action oriented. The Tuesday working groups focused on Indigenous place-based solutions, reconciliation efforts, and cultural restoration strategies.

Looking Ahead

As the dust settles from this transformative gathering, the Planning Circle and The Sierra Fund Board and Staff are enthusiastic about the momentum generated during the summit. Plans are already underway to continue the conversations sparked at the event and to turn the ideas developed in the working groups into tangible results. A write-up detailing the recommendations and outcomes from the summit will be released soon with invitation to Indigenous community members of the Sierra to join monthly working group zoom meetings. Working groups will be on:

  • Emergency Services and Community Safety
  • Cultural Ecologies: Language, Food, Culture, and Data Sovereignty
  • Land and Water Guardianship
  • Workforce and Social Investment
  • Reconciliation and Equity

In summary, the Sierra Nevada Tribal Summit on Indigenous Guardianship not only celebrated the rich heritage and knowledge of Indigenous peoples but also paved the way for future collaborations aimed at the well-being of the Sierra Nevada and all its inhabitants. As participants left the summit, they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose and connection—elements vital to the ongoing journey of reconciliation, guardianship, and cultural preservation.

Thanks again to our sponsors! The Summit was made possible thanks to the wide array of generous sponsors: Resources Legacy Fund, Northern Sierra Partnership, Forest Business Alliance/CAL FIRE, Wilton Rancheria, California Tribal Fund, Sierra Business Council, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, Sierra Forest Legacy, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Yuba Water Agency, Truckee Donner Land Trust, and American River Conservancy.

For more details on the summit’s program and initiatives, visit Sierra Tribal Summit.