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The Sogorea Te Land Trust

The Sogorea Te Land Trust

An urban Indigenous women-led land trust that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people

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Reimagine Wellness

April 27, 2020 by PrimaryAdmin

Seeding Hope is a bi-weekly speaker series hosted by Dr. Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu and Nazshonnii Brown.

Art and Production by Inés G. The Seeding Hope Speaker Series features some of the organizers, cultural workers, farmers, activists, matriarchs, scholars, youth, and elders whose work gives us inspiration.
For our first event, we were honored to host, Dr. Kalamaoka’aina Niheu, MD, a Kanaka Maoli/ Native Hawaiin physician, co-founder of the Standing Rock Medic Healer’s Council, and Manua Kea Medics and Dr. Rupa Mayra, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF and co-founder of the Do No Harm Coalition in conversation about their front-line, Covid-19 pandemic work with Bay Area and Indigenous communities. In addition, these experts will talk about the importance of environmental, climate and land justice and honoring Indigenous cultural practices for creating health and wellness and they offer directions that can help us to reimagine health and wellness through practices of Indigenous self–determination for our families and communities.

A cultural song offering was made by Aurora Mamea and Kevin Mamea, Mother and son duo, Indigenous (Blackfeet Tribe and Samoan) Community Leaders and Cultural bearers from the Bay Area, CA.

About our Participants:


Dr. Kalamaoka’aina Niheu MD is a Kanaka Maoli physician born on the frontlines of the Hawaiian movement. As a kauka (doctor) for Onipa’a Na Hui Kalo, she has helped support and revitalize traditional kalo farming and ai pono or food Sovereignty for 20 years. She helped coordinate the No Aloha Poke movement and is the co-founder of the Standing Rock Medic Healer’s Council as well as the Mauna Medic Healer’s Hui. Her published works include “Standing Rock Violence and Police Militarization,” “Indigenous Resistance in an Era of Climate Change Crisis,” and “Pu’uhonua: Sanctuary and Struggle at Makua.” She is currently an Associate Medical Director in the Bay Area in California and member of the COVID 19 response team.

Rupa Marya, MD is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UCSF and co-founder of the Do No Harm Coalition, an organization of over 450 health workers committed to structural change to address health problems.
She was invited by Lakota health leaders and elders to help set up a permanent community clinic for the practice of decolonized medicine at Standing Rock—the Mni Wiconi Health Clinic and Farm. Dr. Marya addresses health issues at the nexus of racism and state violence through her medical work and international outreach with her band, Rupa and the April Fishes.

Rupa lives on occupied Ohlone territory with her husband and two sons. She is married to regenerative organic farmer Benjamin Fahrer, and together they are researching the impact of urban regenerative agriculture on the health of historically oppressed people, examining the connection between soil health, human health and inflammation. Together, they are working on a statewide initiative to support farmers transitioning to farming practices that enhance soil biodiversity in order to improve human health, soil health and climate health—the Soil Health is Human Health Initiative.

Rupa is currently working on her first book with co-author Raj Patel, documenting the health impacts of colonialism on our bodies, on the planet and on our societies. She was recently appointed by Governor Newsom to the Healthy California for All Commission where she brings her perspectives on equity to the dialogue around universal healthcare in California.


Aurora Mamea is an enrolled member of the Great Nation of the “Nitsitapiiks” Blackfeet of Montana. She is a cultural preservationist, a teacher and practitioner of cultural/traditional wellness and spirituality, and “wisdom carrier” of the People.

Aurora has worked for the Native American Health Center for the past 20 years, Professionally, Mrs. Mamea’s career is built from an accumulation of various positions and employment functions since 1996, which includes, Program Manager I, Cultural Prevention Specialist, HIV/Mental Health Outreach Worker, Assistant Medical Clinic Supervisor and Medical Assistant. Through her tenure with the NAHC during the past Sixteen years, She has learned and developed critical skills and knowledge in the areas of: client outreach and engagement, client and community needs assessment, community- and cultural-based prevention, clinical case management, culturally-responsive strategies for improving access to services, and integration and implementation of cultural practices and Native tradition healing for urban Native Americans. Additionally, She is most proud of her success in her critical role in the development and integration of cultural wellness and spirituality practices which improved the agency’s cultural competency, and providing a safe and healing pathway for many community members overcoming trauma, cultural displacement, substance abuse, and historical trauma/cultural loss. Finally, during the past ten years, she has taken on the responsibility, bestowed by her elders and community members, to teach and provide cultural learning (regalia making, storytelling, cultural dancing, and facilitating rites of passages) for Native youth. Mrs. Mamea has developed community partnerships with other Native organizations in improving health and wellness for Native youth thru life skills and leadership development, teaching interpersonal skills that promote a sense of native pride & positive self-esteem.
Mrs. Mamea has eloquently demonstrated that the most essential healing element in serving the Native community is developing and fostering positive “Relations,” through community preservation and community building activities: beading classes, cultural art making (regalia, medicine dress, shawl, etc.), traditional and spiritual practices (dance, sweat lodge, community gathering, medicinal sage gathering, etc.)
Kevin Mamea is a young man of Amskapi Pikuni (Blackfeet) and Samoan ancestry. Kevin is a valuable member of the Sogorea Te Land Trust and he has a great love for the earth, plants and the environment. Kevin also honors ancestral knowledges and cultural protocols and these are valuable contributions that Kevin offers to the many Indigenous community organizations that he works with and is a part of throughout the Bay Area.


Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu is a Tongan/Pacific Islander, scholar and community organizer. She received her doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley in 2019. She is working on her book manuscript, The Mana of the Tongan Everyday: Tongan Grief and Mourning, Patriarchal Violence, and Remembering Va. Fui hosts a radio segment titled “From Moana Nui to California; Indigenous Stories of Land” on 94.1 KPFA radio and she is a Lecturer in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Fui is a member of Sogorea Te Land Trust.


For more information and questions, please contact fui.niumeitolu@gmail.com



Articles on Sogorea Te Land Trust

  • These Indigenous Women Are Reclaiming Stolen Land in the Bay Area
  • Native American ‘land taxes’: a step on the roadmap for reparations
  • Indigenous women lead effort to reclaim ancestral lands

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sogoreatelandtrust

Rematriar la Tierra Devolver la Tierra Regresar a Rematriar la Tierra 
Devolver la Tierra
Regresar a Tierra

Rematriate the Land
Return the Land
Return to Land

We are excited to be translating some of our materials into Spanish with the support of our team member Sharon. 

As we look at some of the language we use, we are discovering not everything always translates. 

What words have you seen being used for Rematriation, 
Land Back and Indigenous Land Return work in other languages?

[ID: A set of slides with a turquoise textured background with  curved bold yellow text that read Rematriate la Tierra, Devolver la Tierra, Regresar a Tierra, Rematriate the Land, Return the Land and Return to Land] 

#Rematriate #Rematriar  #SogoreaTeLandTrust #UrbanIndigenous #WomenLed #LandReturn #LandBack #Rematriation #aroundtheworld
Meet the Crew: Jelly! From the streets of Huchiun Meet the Crew: Jelly!

From the streets of Huchiun to rematriated land. Even the littlest one is doing their part. Welcoming Jelly to our team! 

[ID: a tiny fluffy dog in a big truck with a Sogorea Te Land logo that reads Rematriate the Land].

#TheCrewIsCute #SogoreaTeLandTrust
Reawakening the land by sowing our energy into it. Reawakening the land by sowing our energy into it. How it started and How it’s going 🌱
We are grateful to witness Black, Indigenous and Youth of Color connect to the earth 🌳

Mitiini Numma youth program is growing the truth by weekly tending to a little garden space. Bringing in native plants to grow made the garden very happy and it has gifted us with a lush and lively space 🪱🌼🌿

#youthprogram #howitstarted #howitsgoing #nativeplants #sogoreatelandtrust #youthgarden #mitiininumma #growthetruth #stickymonkeyflower
Meet the Crew: Araceli! Araceli or Ara is a non- Meet the Crew: Araceli! 

Araceli or Ara is a non-binary, undocumented artist and community organizer born in so called Mexico City and raised in the Bay Area. Araceli has been part of Bay Area organizing efforts for youth, students, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and working class communities of color.

As a life-long student, Araceli continues to expand their knowledge in ethnic studies, art history, visual arts, and communications. In their volunteering capacity, Araceli has led labor unionizing efforts, campaigns against deportations, and grassroots fundraising for community-led causes.

Ara joined the team as one of our Mitiini Numma youth program coordinators.  Thank you Ara! 

📷 @tooda.fuji 

[Id: A polaroid style picture of a smiling person in white with long dark hair sitting  and looking towards  a cute and small dog on their lap.  The background is white with leaves from a hanging plant trailing down. ] 

#MeetTheCrew #Staff #SogoreaTeLandTrust #Urban #Indigenous #WomenLed #LandTrust #LandReturn #Rematriation
Indigenous women defending land and life from Turt Indigenous women defending land and life from Turtle Island to Abya Yala. 🪶

Offering a thank you to Mapuche elder Lonko Juanita Millal who joined us to share the story of her people and her struggle  fleeing violence and political persecution in Chile to seek political asylum in the U.S. 

Lonko Juanita has dedicated her life to uplift Mapuche culture, protect the land, waters and the people, creating solidarity among marginalized communities and bringing awareness of the Mapuche peoples’ present day fight against colonization, displacement, incarceration and violent repression.

Visit Lonko Juanita @laregiae to learn how to support her political asylum and work.

 [A Mapuche elder in brightly colored clothing and traditional jewelry is holding a blue Mapuche flag in front of a mural with part of a tule boat, mountains and sunrise visible]

#IndigenousWomen #LandDefenders #WaterDefenders #CulturalWorkers #SogoreaTeLandTrust #SolidarityAcrossBorders #RematriateTheLand
“When you create a web of education, it is power “When you create a web of education, it is powerful.” ✊🏽

Hear from the participants in Mitiini Numma about the program and their experiences!✨ 

#mitiininumma #growthetruth #youthleaders #youthprogram #Huchiun #sogoreatelandtrust
Hummingbird Sage harvest! Rammay’s hummingbird Hummingbird Sage harvest! 

Rammay’s hummingbird sage has spread generously through self propagation by sowing its own seeds into the soil and, its pretty healthy rhizome root system. It has bloomed throughout the last winter month providing plenty of nectar for hummingbirds, here is a beautiful harvest of the leaves 🍃.
We’re looking forward to more blooms!
Indigenous People for a Free Palestine. Indigeno Indigenous People for a Free Palestine. 

Indigenous People for a Ceasefire.

Indigenous People for an End of the Occupation. 

Let Gaza Live. 

We demand an immediate ceasefire in Palestine.  We condemn the Israeli siege, we condemn apartheid, we condemn genocide, and we demand an end to U.S military aid and funding of Israeli violence.

From the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust statement in solidarity with Palestine. 

[ID: The above text over a video clip of a group of people holding American Indian Movement and Palestinian flags in the wind at the Shellmound to Shellmound Prayer walk in solidarity with Palestine]

#Ceasefire #FreePalestine #FreetheLand #FreethePeople
May we return to balance. ✨ We call in the ener May we return to balance. ✨

We call in the energy of Spring equinox, growing towards the light, and returning to balance as we think of and pray for justice, safety, and equity for our relatives around the world struggling to survive genocide, violence, inequality and oppression. 

We carry these struggles in our hearts as we plant seeds and tend the soil of dreams we hope will flourish,  as we compost the old, let it transform into something that can nourish and work our gardens to grow the worlds we want to live in.

#SpringEquinox #ReturnToBalance
Ask First. Its always respectful to ask first. Ask First. 
Its always respectful to ask first. 

Ask before fundraising for us. 
Ask before using our photos, writings and images. 
Ask before using Indigenous language, representations, or practices that are not your own.

Before you ask us, ask yourself:

How have you benefited from stolen land? 
What labor are you asking from Indigenous people?
How is this reciprocal? 
What do you bring?
How will this be transformative?
Are you prepared to do the work?

From How to Come Correct;
protocols, guidelines, & invitations

bit.ly/howtocomecorrect, link in bio

[ID: a set of slides with a purple, blue, pink, yellow ombré background and the text in the above caption)
#howtocomecorrect #resources #protocol #guidelines #Iniviations #sogoreatelandtrust 
#urbanindigenous #womenled #landreturn #landback #rematriation
Ancestral arts weaving workshop led by Inès✨ T Ancestral arts weaving workshop led by Inès✨

Thank you @aicrc510 for joining us this week! ❤️🧵

#youthprogram #mitiininumma #rematriate #weaving #ancestralarts
Listening to the Land One of our most FAQ is “Wh Listening to the Land
One of our most FAQ is “What do you plan to do with this land?”
 Many land sites have returned to indigenous hands are not in  best conditions. Some conditions are invasive plant and tree species, contaminated soil that will take years to regenerate and years of layered trash. 
Listening and observing the land gives us time dream and plan out our vision. 
We spend time learning about the history of the site and who “owned” it before it returned, what was built on it and most importantly acknowledging that the land needs to rest. 

#LandBack #landreturn #returntotheland #indigenousautonomy #indigenoussovereignty 

📸: @shay_marcos97 
📸: @creative_mudafukah
"...The crowd cheered as speakers talked of a move "...The crowd cheered as speakers talked of a movement to restore other lands to Indigenous people. The site — a three-block area Berkeley designated as a landmark in 2000 — will be home to native medicines and foods, an oasis for pollinators and wildlife, and a place for youth to learn about their heritage, including ancient dances and ceremonies, said Melissa Nelson, chair of the board of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.

“Thousands of years ago, this site was a thriving … urban center for Native Americans, for California Indians with their beautiful shell mounds dotted all around the bay,” said Nelson. “We want to be a place for global Indigenous leadership to come and gather in solidarity. We want to educate, we want to restore and we want to heal...”

from @KQED 

#IndigenousJoy #LandBack #LandReturn #RematriatetheLand
“Now this area will be restored under Indigenous “Now this area will be restored under Indigenous women’s leadership. We are Rematriating this West Berekley Shellmound.” 

Dr. Melissa Nelson (Anishinaabe/Métis [Turtle Mountain Chippewa]) Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Board of Directors 

#sogoreatelandtrust #westberkeleyshellmound #pressconference #landback #rematriatetheland
Live with @corrina_gould! Reactions from the lan Live with @corrina_gould! 

Reactions from the land return!
Press Conference at The West Berkeley Shellmound Press Conference at The West Berkeley  Shellmound “This Land has been Returned to Indigenous Hands”
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