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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
    • Updates
    • Resources
    • 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: Guidance for Foundations

The Shuumi Land Tax is an invitation to acknowledge the history of this land and contribute to its healing, to enter into a restorative relationship with the local Indigenous community.

Consider your foundation’s footprint in the Territory of Lisjan

  • Does your foundation have offices located here? 
  • Does your grantmaking occur here? 
  • Do your staff, board members, trustees, consultants, or donors live here?

In operating here, your foundation is inadvertently benefitting from the genocide waged against the Ohlone people and the theft of their land. The civic infrastructure, the financial 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. In particular, consider the role and responsibility of your foundation, and philanthropy in general, as stewards of accumulated wealth, often directly or indirectly extracted from Indigenous lands and the exploitation of communities of color. 

  • Where did the wealth that your foundation manages come from? 
  • Whose land was used to generate that wealth? Whose labor? 

Philanthropy has an important role to play in repairing our broken relationships with each other and the land we live on, in proportion to the resources and power the sector directs.  

No amount of money will undo the damage that’s been done, bring back the lost lives or erase the suffering of the people. But this is a step in a long-term process of healing, an important way you can, right now, participate in the work our ancestors and future generations are calling us all to do.

  • Photos by Inés Ixierda for Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.

The Shuumi Land Tax makes three key invitations: relationships, redistribution and leverage.

Shuumi is about relationships. This is an invitation to move towards being in right relationship with the Lisjan Ohlone people, to commit to continually learning and taking action in an ongoing journey as we figure out how to do this work together. 

  • How are you, your colleagues, and your families learning the histories of the Lisjan Ohlone people, and about their current day efforts to take care of this land? 
  • Have you and your colleagues had the opportunity to participate in gatherings, teach-ins, or actions hosted by the Lisjan Ohlone as part of building relationships? 
  • Are you reflecting together on how these learnings are shaping your understanding of how to relate with the Indigenous people of this place, and this land?

Shuumi is about redistribution. This is an invitation to make an annual “no strings attached,” “no paperwork required” financial contribution relative to your foundation’s accumulated wealth. Shuumi means “gift” in the Ohlone language Chochenyo and is a critical part of redistributing the resources necessary to support the ongoing work of rematriation and the self determination and sovereignty of the local Indigenous community.


Shuumi is about leverage. This is an invitation to leverage the particular institutional resources your foundation has to support the work of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. What access to land, buildings, or infrastructure, what professional expertise, what political power, what platform, privileges, or audience base can your foundation yield in support of rematriation?

How to Use the Calculator

What type of institution do you represent? 

The Institutional Shuumi Land Tax Calculator is based on whether your organization is nonprofit or for-profit. 

For foundations spending out/down entirely within the next 5 – 10 years, use the non-profit calculator on the Institutional Shuumi Land Tax page according to your annual budget.* This is how the calculations break down:

  • $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 foundations paying out 5 –10% of the endowment each year, use the for–profit option as we consider the endless growth of endowments for the purpose of existing in perpetuity to be a for-profit endeavor. Use the for-profit calculator on the Institutional Shuumi Land Tax page according to your annual budget.* This is how the calculations break down:

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

*What is your organization’s annual budget?

There are two annual budgets to consider: administrative/operating and grantmaking. 

  • If all of your operations and grantmaking occurs on Lisjan Ohlone land, we invite you to use the sum of both budgets for your Shuumi calculations. 
  • If a portion of your operations and grantmaking occur on Lisjan Ohlone land, consider a relative percentage of each budget to calculate your Shuumi. 

Questions to consider include: 

  • Do you have physical offices on Lisjan Ohlone land? 
  • Do your staff, board members, trustees, consultants, or donors live here?
  • How much of your grantmaking is dedicated here?

Take time to discuss with your staff, board and colleagues how your work is based in this place, on this land, and how that might inform your relative contribution to Shuumi. Calculate the percentage of your annual administrative and grant making budgets that are based in Lisjan Ohlone land and translate them to a dollar value. Use that number for the second question in the Institutional Shuumi calculator. That will produce your recommended annual Shuumi contribution.

If some of your operations and grantmaking occur in other places, find the local Indigenous Tribes and organizations that are doing good work and contribute proportionately to support them. For more information about other Indigenous funding platforms, check out our FAQs.  

More than numbers: the spirit of Shuumi 

This calculator is just a tool to catalyze conversation, contribution and ultimately transformation. We invite you to seriously engage with your recommended Shuumi, but don’t get lost in the numbers. If there is an element that is not factored into these calculations that inspires you to give more or requires you to give less, then do so, and do so with truth and accountability.

In the spirit of healing, consider where the wealth comes from, and the accumulated benefit, economic opportunities, and cultural capital your foundation may have acquired from existing on Lisjan Ohlone land over time. While it may be impossible to quantify in a dollar amount, what is a meaningful and transformative contribution your foundation can make? 

Do you have questions about how to engage with Shuumi at your foundation? Are you interested in 1:1 peer coaching or participating in a learning group? Contact Ariel Luckey at ariel (at) rematriatetheland (dot) org to learn more.

The impacts of colonization have accumulated over time and oppressed generations of Lisjan Ohlone people. Our response should be proportional. What is appropriate and feasible will vary from institution to institution. Shuumi invites you to think about what your foundation can offer, find out what is useful, and make it happen.

Give Shuumi. Rematriate the Land.

Calculate your Institutional Shuumi

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Our work of rematriation, returning Indigenous land to Indigenous people, is only possible with your support.

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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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