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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

  • About
    • Purpose and Vision
    • Our History
    • Staff & Board
    • Partnerships & Alliances
    • Contact Us
  • Lisjan (Ohlone)
    • Lisjan History & Territory
    • Mak Noono Tiirinikma
  • Programs
    • Cultural Revitalization
    • Himmetka: In One Place, Together
    • Mitiini Numma Youth Program
  • Rematriation
    • Land Sites
      • Lisjan, East Oakland
      • ‘Ookwe, Richmond
      • Rammay, West Oakland
      • Rinihmu Pulte’irekne, Oakland Hills
      • ‘Ištune, Oakland
      • Mugworts Cabin
      • Pinnantak
      • ‘Irihte Ujima
    • Return Land / Land Return
    • Rematriate the Land Fund
  • Media
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    • Creative Collaborations
  • Engage
    • $ Donate!
    • Make a Request
    • Get E-mail Updates
    • Land Acknowledgements
    • Other Ways to Engage
  • Shuumi Land Tax
    • Institutional Shuumi Land Tax
    • Shuumi Land Tax FAQs
      • Testimonials

Shuumi Land Tax FAQs

What does Shuumi mean?

Shuumi means “gift” in the Chochenyo language

Who created the Shuumi Land Tax?

The creation of the Shuumi Land Tax was was inspired by the Honor Tax for the Wiyot Nation initiated by Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples and facilitated by non-Indigenous accomplices living in colonized Lisjan territory in an effort to recognize and support their work of rematriation.

What will the funds from the tax be used for?

All of the funds generated by Shuumi will go directly to support the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust’s work of rematriation, facilitating the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people. This includes caring for land, cultivating urban gardens, cultural regeneration work, urban emergency response strategies, engaging in public education and advocacy, and nurturing Indigenous resilience.  

What’s the difference between the Shuumi Land Tax and making a donation?

The Shuumi Land Tax is not a donation.* It is a financial contribution that recognizes and respects the sovereignty of Native Nations and acknowledges the historic relationship the Lisjan Ohlone have with their traditional territories. It is a voluntary annual contribution paid to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust by non-Native people who live on unceded Lisjan Ohlone land. *However, it is tax-deductible, see below.

What Tribe does Shuumi Land Tax go to?

Shuumi doesn’t go to a Tribe, it is a contribution to the work of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust-an intertribal non-profit women-led Indigenous organization who work in deep collaboration with the Lisjan Tribe, a confederation that includes Ohlone people.

Why does the money go to a non-profit women-led Indigenous land trust and not a tribal government?

None of the Ohlone tribes are federally recognized by the United States government. Federal recognition is a legal status that affirms a tribe’s entitlement to self-determination and sovereignty. Hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people across the United States belong to non-federally recognized tribes. The process to become “recognized” in the United States is the Federal Acknowledgement Process, an arduous and expensive undertaking that lasts decades, as a tribe must prove its ‘authenticity’ under criteria designed to severely limit the possibility of success. Given the lack of a formal tribal government structure to facilitate community development, the Indigenous women leaders of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust have stepped up to create an alternative model.

I don’t know any Ohlone people or the history of the land, why should I pay a tax?

If you live on Ohlone land, you are benefiting from the genocide waged against the Ohlone people and the theft of their land. Whether you know it or not, and however you feel about it, this is an inescapable fact. The civic infrastructure, the economic system, the private development and the consumption of natural resources in our society are all connected to and in different ways built upon the colonial occupation of this land and the violent displacement of the Ohlone. Paying the Shuumi Land Tax is a small way to contribute to the healing of this history while supporting Indigenous women led land work.

How do the calculations of the Shuumi Land Tax work?

For individuals or households paying Shuumi, the Tax calculations are informed by two main factors: your relationship to the land, whether you rent or own, and the approximate value or amount of land you live on.

For people who rent or lease their home, here is the breakdown of how the tax is calculated:

  • $0-1500 monthly rent: annual rent x 0.005 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution (0.5% of annual rent)
  • $1501-2500 monthly rent: annual rent x 0.00625 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution (0.625% of annual rent)
  • $2501-3500 monthly rent: annual rent x 0.0075 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution (0.75% of annual rent)
  • $3501 and above monthly rent: annual rent x 0.01 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution (1% of annual rent)

For people who own their home, here is the breakdown of how the tax is calculated:

  • Studio = $150 annually or $12.50/month
  • 1 Bedroom = $200 annually or $16.66/month
  • 2 Bedrooms = $300 annually or $25/month
  • 3 Bedrooms = $400 annually or $33.33/month
  • 4+ Bedrooms = $500 annually or $41.66/month

A few things to note:

Ownership can apply to condos as well as houses. It also applies to non-owner occupied land such as rental properties, businesses or factories. In other words, if you own multiple pieces of land in Ohlone territory, you should pay taxes on all of them.

All of this is a recommendation, an invitation for you to consider your use of Lisjan Ohlone land and make an appropriate contribution to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. If there is an important element that is not factored into these calculations that inspires you to give more or requires you to give less, then do so.

How do the calculations of the Institutional Shuumi Land Tax work?

For institutions paying Shuumi, the Tax calculations are informed by two main factors: an institution’s primary economic model, whether it’s a for profit or nonprofit, and the size of your annual budget or revenue.

For nonprofits, both local and national (with offices or operations on Lisjan Ohlone land), here is the breakdown of how the tax is calculated:

Nonprofit Shuumi Calculations

  • $0 – $100,000: annual budget x 0.0025 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution
  • $100,001 – $750,000: annual budget x 0.004 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution
  • $750,001 – $1,500,000: annual budget x 0.007 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution
  • $1,500,001 and above: annual budget x 0.01 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution

For for-profits/businesses, both local and national (with offices or operations on Lisjan Ohlone land), here is the breakdown of how the tax is calculated:

For Profit Shuumi Calculations

  • $0 – $500,000: annual revenue x 0.005 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution
  • $500,001 – $1,500,000: annual revenue x 0.01 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution
  • $1,500,001 – $3,000,000: annual revenue x 0.02 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution
  • $3,000,001 and above: annual revenue x 0.04 = your recommended annual Shuumi contribution

What is appropriate and feasible will vary from institution to institution. Shuumi invites you to think about what your institution can offer, find out what is useful, and make it happen. All of this is a recommendation, an invitation for you to consider your use of Lisjan Ohlone land and make an appropriate contribution to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. If there is an important element that is not factored into these calculations that inspires you to give more or requires you to give less, then do so.

Is payment of the Land Tax tax-deductible?

Yes. The Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is an independent, registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in good standing with the state of California and the contributions it receives are tax-deductible under our EIN# 82-4415931.

I already pay taxes to the government, why should I pay more to the Land Trust?

People pay many different kinds of taxes to the government: sales, income, property, etc. The primary taxes levied on land are property taxes. These are paid to local governments and fund services such as roads, parks, schools and libraries. Since the Ohlone are not a federally recognized tribe, they do not receive any of the political or economic opportunities that federally recognized tribes have access to. They are also not entitled to participate in the gaming industry or legally impose taxes on their tribal land. However, they can set up non-profit organizations and get the same tax benefits as other non-profits. Taxation is a controversial process with a complicated history. For the purposes of Shuumi, we use the word tax to describe a payment towards the investment in and development of a collective good. The Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is working on behalf of all of us to transform our relationship to the land we live on, to heal its brutal history of violence and restore its ecological health and vitality.

Why is the Shuumi Land Tax based on a progressive tax structure?

Generally, people with a higher income and more wealth consume more local (and global) resources and therefore should make a proportionally larger contribution. A progressive tax is a tax in which the tax rate increases as the taxable amount increases. In other words, the more land you live on or the greater the value of that land, the more you pay. The Shuumi Land Tax is designed so that the annual amount a person pays is informed by both the person’s relationship to the land they live on (renting or owning) and their ability to pay. Similarly, Institutional Shuumi is designed to reflect each business or organization’s purpose and size in appropriate relationship with its contribution.

What about the streets, parks, stores, schools and all the other community places that I have the benefit of using that are also on stolen Lisjan Ohlone land?

Great question! The Shuumi Land Tax calculation is based on the specific piece of land you live on but that is not the only Lisjan Ohlone land you use. Throughout our lives, we work, play, shop, etc. in various places on Ohlone land (and of course other tribal territories), including land that was formerly villages, sacred sites, and burial grounds. The genocide waged against the Ohlone and the theft of their land have profoundly shaped the development of our society and the modern world we utilize daily. Nothing exists unaffected by this history. Everyone who lives here in this beautiful place benefits from it. For simplicity sake, the Shuumi Land Tax uses our homes and workplaces as a symbol for all of the Ohlone land that we live on.

I just arrived recently in Lisjan Ohlone territory. Do I still have to pay the tax?

This simple answer is “Of course!” But here’s the deal: No one “has” to pay this tax. We will not show up at your doorstep to evict you if you do not pay. But we strongly encourage you to participate in this community effort to acknowledge the local Ohlone and Indigenous community and support their efforts to reclaim pieces of their traditional land. Whether you are a recent transplant or an old school resident, Shuumi is for you.

My family has lived in Lisjan Ohlone territory for generations. How should that affect my participation in the tax?

Consider the accumulated benefit, the economic opportunities, the cultural capital your family might have acquired from living here over time. While it may be impossible to quantify in a dollar amount, consider digging a little deeper and contributing a little (or a lot) more. Invite your family members to also pay the Shuumi Land Tax. The impacts of colonization have accumulated over time and oppressed generations of Ohlone people. Our response should be proportional.

I really want to contribute to this project but I don’t live on Lisjan Ohlone land. What should I do?

We have The Rematriate the Land Fund, for anyone anywhere, dedicated to support our our land return work.

We also invite you to learn about the local tribe(s) where you do live and support their efforts for self determination financially or otherwise.

Check out our Other Ways to Engage page for more information about additional ways to learn and connect with our work.

Are there Indigenous funding models like the Shuumi Land Tax in other parts of the country? 

Yes, the Shuumi Land Tax was inspired by the Wiyot tribe’s Honor Tax in Humboldt County, California. There is also Real Rent Duwamish in Seattle, the Manna Hatta Fund in New York, the Honor Native Land Tax in Albuquerque and several others in development across the continent.

I don’t have any financial resources to contribute, is there anything other way I can support the Land Trust?

Absolutely. We’re so glad you asked. There are many ways to support the work of the Sogorea Te Land Trust. You can learn more here.

Now that I have paid the tax, is my work done?

No! This is just a first step towards acknowledging and supporting the Ohlone and the Bay Area Indigneous community. Some ideas about next steps include:

  • Let other people in the East Bay know about the Shuumi Land Tax and encourage them to pay it.
  • Advocate for your workplace, your place of worship, your children’s schools, your local government to pay Institutional Shuumi.
  • Get involved with the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust’s programs.
  • Spread the word about the importance of protecting Indigenous sacred sites and supporting Indigenous communities.
  • Learn more here.

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The Shuumi Land Tax is a voluntary annual contribution that non-Indigenous people living on traditional Lisjan Ohlone territory make to support the critical work of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.

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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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