Justice starts with land.
The Oregon Land Justice Project’s new Indigenous Land Relationship Fund is now open! This small grant program was created by land trusts in Oregon to directly support Indigenous people in reclaiming and reconnecting to culture, traditional landscapes, and First Foods.
Currently distributing about $50,000 per year, the fund is open to Indigenous-led nonprofits, Indigenous individuals, and Tribal governments whose ancestral lands include Oregon.
This fund will support a variety of efforts that support Indigenous people in reclaiming and reconnecting to culture, traditional landscapes, and First Foods. It has already supported one project in Warm Springs, where 45 elders and youth toured their ceded lands over the course of several days.
Why This Fund Was Created
As Oregon’s land trust community, we have a responsibility to use our resources to address, not just acknowledge, the reality of Indigenous land loss. Our ongoing work with the Oregon Land Justice Project and the Indigenous Land Relationship Fund are ways we can support Tribes and Indigenous communities who have lived on and stewarded this land since time immemorial.
About the Fund
Currently distributing about $50,000 per year, the fund is open to Indigenous-led nonprofits, Indigenous individuals, and Tribal governments whose ancestral lands include Oregon. This fund will support community-led efforts that support Indigenous people in reclaiming and reconnecting to culture, traditional landscapes, and First Foods.
Examples of Potential Projects
- Funding a camp or activity that provides cultural access
- Support for a ‘ceded lands tour’ to reconnect to place and provide elders a chance to share story of place
- Tribal needs for land transaction or stewardship costs
The fund has already supported one project in Warm Springs, where 45 elders and youth toured their ceded lands over the course of several days.
Applications are open on a rolling basis, and submissions will be reviewed on the 15th of each month.
Who Manages the Fund
Currently, the fund is managed by the Oregon Land Justice Council and decisions are made monthly through a collective action model. Over time, and following the interests and needs of Indigenous people, we envision a full transition to inter-Tribal leadership over fund decisions and distributions.
About the Oregon Land Justice Project
The Oregon Land Justice Project is a program of the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts implemented in partnership with First Light Learning Journey, and Tributaries Network. The project organizes land trusts in Oregon to use their individual organizational strengths and assets collectively in service to Indigenous people and communities in Oregon.
If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to Anna-Liza Victory at anna-liza@oregonlandtrusts.org
Support Land Justice in Oregon
If you’d like to contribute to this fund, we are accepting donations to support even more Indigenous-led projects. All donations to the Indigenous Land Relationship Fund will go directly to Indigenous individuals and Indigenous-led organizations. Give today and thank you for your continued support of this work.
