Support Indigenous-led Conservation

WHO WE ARE:

Many conservation organizations work to protect nature from people. At TLC, we recognize a different truth: people are part of nature. Our responsibility is not simply to protect the land, but to remember how to live in right relationship with the living world around us.

As an Indigenous-led, non-governmental land trust, TLC is dedicated to protecting and restoring Turtle Island through place-based stewardship guided by Traditional Ecological Knowledge. We tend the ecosystems that sustain us, support biodiversity, strengthen food sovereignty, and ensure Indigenous communities can continue practicing cultural traditions that have connected people to the land for generations.

This work is not just about conservation. It is about strengthening relationships between people, place, and All Our Relations.

WHAT WE DO:

We advocate for Indigenous access, educate communities about Aboriginal rights, and work to create safe spaces where tribal members can harvest traditional foods and medicines, share knowledge, and practice cultural traditions without harassment or misunderstanding.

We've also put these values into action through food-sharing initiatives that benefit Indigenous elders and families. By providing ethically harvested venison and fish to members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, we have connected people with culturally meaningful foods while addressing food security needs. These efforts support local agriculture, responsibly manage deer populations, and demonstrate how ecological stewardship and community care can work hand in hand.

While TLC does not yet have land in our care, we are laying the foundation for a different kind of land trust. We are building partnerships, pursuing cultural easements and conservation collaborations, developing educational resources, attending trainings, and creating the organizational infrastructure needed to increase our capacity and reach.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Every year-end gift helps us build the foundation for Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship, and community resilience. Your support will help us:

• Maintain our website and communications
• Create educational materials and outreach resources
• Attend trainings and conferences that strengthen our capacity
• Expand Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives
• Develop partnerships with conservation organizations and tribal communities
• Build the foundation needed to steward land in the future

Our teachings encourage us to think seven generations ahead. The work we do today helps ensure that future generations inherit not only healthy ecosystems, but also the knowledge, relationships, and cultural practices needed to care for them.

We invite you to join us in building a future rooted in reciprocity, respect, and responsibility to All Our Relations.

Please consider making a year-end gift to Turtle Land Conservancy. Together, we can help ensure that both land and culture thrive for generations to come. 

With gratitude,

The Board of Directors
Turtle Land Conservancy