• Our Story

    Sacred Lands, Native Hands (SLNH) was birthed through a conversation between Caressa Nguyen and Alexandra Carelli at Starhawk’s Earth Activist Training training in Mendocino, California.

    The organization was founded in 2017 with a shared understanding that restoration of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) is a solution to the global climate crisis. We received our official tax-exempt status as a 501(c)-3 nonprofit from the IRS in August 2020.

  • Our Mission

    Our mission is to restore ancestral homelands to the hands of Indigenous people for traditional stewardship, protection, and perpetuation of a regenerative future. 

    Our secondary mission is to provide education on indigenous ecological knowledge for the perpetuation of  a regenerative future.

What is our approach?

  • Tribal Sovereignty

    We engage tribal governments/councils to ensure that our projects are in support of tribal nations. We have reserved 21 board seats to hold the capacity to include tribal representation on projects served.

  • Activism

    We activate art, media, and creativity to spread awareness of environmental issues facing Indigenous communities.

  • Community Education

    We believe that Indigenous Ecological Knowledge provides solutions to the climate crisis. We host Indigenous instructors, speakers and allies to offer local and virtual workshops on earth-based, practical solutions.

  • Native Plant Restoration

    We are passionate about supporting projects that restore native plants to the landscape whether in your backyard or beyond.

  • Land Trust

    Indigenous peoples need access to land in order to continue our cultural lifeways. We support Tribes in securing land for cultural preservation and stewardship of a regenerative future.

  • Local Economy

    We believe in adequately compensating Indigenous peoples for their time and contributions. An integral part of our projects is job creation for Indigenous people.