Indigenous Land Relationship Fund
Photo by Lionhorse Media.
Redistributing resources to support Indigenous communities.
About the Fund
The purpose of the Indigenous Land Relationship Fund is to support Indigenous-led community projects to reclaim and reconnect to culture, traditional landscapes and First Foods.
The Fund was created as a way for Oregon land trusts to demonstrate solidarity and cede financial resources that are needed for land justice efforts. In addition to providing funding, the Council may be able to provide logistical support, technical assistance and capacity for implementing projects, if needed.
Currently, the Fund is managed by the Oregon Land Justice Council and decisions are made through a collective action model on a monthly basis. 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.
Supporting Indigenous people in reclaiming and reconnecting to culture, traditional landscapes, and First Foods.
Three Funding Cycles Per Year
Summer Cycle
Requests due June 30th
Fall Cycle
Requests due October 31st
Spring Cycle
Requests due February 28th
Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, requests must meet all of the following criteria:
1. The applicant represents one of the following:
a federally-recognized Tribal government
a non-federally recognized Tribe with 501(c)3 status
an Indigenous-led 501(c)3
an Indigenous community group with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor
2. The requested amount must be in the $1,000 to $20,000 range
3. The project is Indigenous-led and directed
4. The project involves reconnection to land or first foods
5. The project serves one or more Tribes or Indigenous communities. Communities can be comprised of:
Indigenous people from Tribes with ancestral ties to our service area (see map below)
Indigenous people from Tribes outside of our service area who reside in or serve Indigenous people within our service area, including Urban Indian communities
6. The project takes places, wholly or partially, within our defined service area
Service Area
This map depicts the combined service areas of land trusts and conservation districts involved with the Oregon Land Justice Project.
The Indigenous Land Relationship Fund is available to resource Indigenous-led projects within this combined service area. For reference, we have also depicted lands held in trust by federally recognized Tribes that intersect with or are adjacent to the combined service area. We acknowledge that this map depicts present-day, colonial boundaries that do not reflect that much larger land area that’s pertinent to multiple Tribes’ Treaty rights, ancestral use areas, and broader cultural footprint. Despite these limitations, this map is intended to provide clarity on the spatial scope of the Indigenous Land Relationship Fund.
Process & Guidelines
Our goal is to make the Fund as low-barrier to access as possible. The process is streamlined and we collect only as much information as we need. Ideally, it should take no more than 20 minutes to complete the form. Additionally, there is no obligation to submit final reports or documentation.
What to expect:
Fill out and submit the funding and assistance request form by the submission due date.
Expect to receive a funding notification by email approximately six weeks after the submission due date. We may reach out with additional questions in the meantime.
Review and digitally sign a two-page grant agreement, a W9, and a wire transfer form within three weeks of receiving a funding notification.
Receive payment directly into your bank account within one week of signing paperwork.
Plan to follow up with us within one year. You do not need to submit a report or documentation. We simply ask that you let us know how the project went, how funds were used, and any ways we can further support the project or improve the funding process. This can be over email, phone, zoom, recorded video, in-person or however is convenient for you!
Know before requesting:
Currently, we do not offer multi-year grants, but we welcome recurring requests for the same projects or from the same Tribe/organization for different projects.
The request form is always open, so you may submit a request anytime during the year. The request will automatically roll over to the next closest funding cycle.
While we will always try to fund at the requested amount, due to high need and limited resources, we may occasionally need to modify or reduce funding amounts or decline requests. In these cases, we will work with you to make alternate arrangements or plans.
Do you have a request for funding?
To submit a request, please fill out the Google form linked below
Funding requests are due by 11:59 pm on February 28th, June 30th, and October 31st each year
Missed the due date? No worries! Your request will be rolled over to the next cycle
Funded Projects
Nez Perce and Umatilla youth traditional hunting and hunter’s safety summer camp Pandion Institute
3rd annual Willamette Falls lamprey celebration Yakama Nation Fisheries
Food sovereignty garden and ongoing land stewardship Nativewomanshare
Elders and youth “stories and place” tour of ceded lands Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Community Ichishkin language classes on the land Columbia River Institute for Indigenous Development
Revitalizing coming-of-age ceremonies for young women Kalapuya Weaving & Consulting and The Wetlands Conservancy (fiscal sponsor)
Nez Perce youth language and culture summer camp Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland
Tribal member led kelp and mussels monitoring site visits Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Youth workforce development and stewarding first foods training Northwest American Indian Coalition
General operating support and land transfer legal consulting Kommema Cultural Protection Association
Strategic planning and general operating support Nvn-nes-’a Land Trust
Laptops for middle school science first foods curriculum Warm Springs K-8 Academy
Chinook land steward position Necanicum Watershed Council and Chinook Indian Nation
Huckleberry picking and medicine gathering camp Naknuwiłama Tiiča̓mna - Caretakers of the Land and the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon (fiscal sponsor)
Community gathering to reconnect to sacred sites and culture People of Red Mountain
We can fund…
As long as a project meets all of the eligibility criteria above, we will always try to say “yes” to a funding request!
Funding is non-competitive and based on trust that the recipient will use the funds as needed to advance their project.
We can’t fund…
businesses, families, or individuals
community groups without a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor (though we may be able to help find a fiscal sponsor - ask us for help!)
projects without a community benefit
land acquisition
projects outside of the service area (though we may make exceptions within reason)
Assistance & Support
Our staff or council may be able to help with other aspects of a project beyond (or in lieu of) funding. In your funding request, please indicate if there is other support you may need. We may be able to provide the following:
Fiscal sponsorship or project partnership
Pro bono legal consulting (request must be officially made through a COLT member land trust)
Training, advice, or thought-partnership on various topics
Volunteer labor
Access to land trust properties
Growing your network or facilitating introductions
Other technical assistance as needed
Contact Us!
Have questions or feedback? Need accommodations? Requesting assistance? Please reach out to us!
Support the Indigenous Land Relationship Fund
Photo by Russell Tomlin.