• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
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

How to Come Correct

March 14, 2023 by

Protocols, Guidelines, and Invitations


The work of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is made possible by the strength, resilience, leadership, and labor of Indigenous women and culture keepers

We are also supported by many allies and accomplices of different backgrounds, engaging with the vision of Indigenous women led land return and rematriation. Collectively we are all still in a world founded on the theft of the lives and land of Indigenous people. 


As a society we are really just beginning to learn how to navigate what it means to acknowledge the history of the land we are on, and build meaningful deep relationships. As we move towards transforming our relationships to the land we are on, here are some tips for how to engage with our work and more!


Prepare

A great way to prepare is to do some research before you even reach out and ask us for something! Check out our website for a ton of great resources and information, including Lisjan History, Requesting a Speaker, Rematriation Resources, Shuumi Land Tax , and STLT Updates!


Study Up!

  • Learn the history of the land you are on
  • Learn about the relationship of your own family line to stolen land
  • Find out about the issues impacting Indigenous communities today

Rematriation:

Indigenous women led work to restore sacred relationships between Indigenous people and their ancestral land. Honoring our matrilineal societies and lineage’s ways of tending to the land, in opposition of patriarchal violence.


Rematriation weaves traditional and cultural knowledge back in harmony with the land. In Lisjan territory, we envision a Bay Area in which Chochenyo language and ceremony are an active, thriving part of the cultural landscape. Check out our Rematriation page for more info!


Be A Good Guest

It’s always respectful to ask first before taking action for or in place of Indigenous people. Please note that permission may not be granted or we may advise for reflection and research.


Ask Yourself…

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

Engagements

We appreciate opportunities to engage with different communities and share our work. At the same time, many of us experience constant requests for culturally extractive information. A lot of the work we do is related to healing and historic harm, presenting the history of colonization and genocide is not easy.


Requests

Pay real honorariums, especially if you are connected to corporations and institutions.

Give us a minute to respond. We are navigating many requests and engage specific processes for decision making.


Indigenous people are not a checkbox or cultural display. Don’t consume us. Engage with us.

To request a member of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust for an event, conference, or interview please use our Inquiry Form, 3-4 weeks in advance. 


Sharing Our Work

Please share our work! Feel free to share our public social media posts, information about Shuumi Land Tax, and links to our website! Please feel free to share public information from our website for small class projects or similar unpaid educational projects. If you want to include our work in larger projects, places were presenters are being paid or in print, please reach out to our email!


Representations

Any kind of portrayal  that includes any inspiration by Indigenous people, creates a representation. If your request includes the creation of a representation please consider:

  • Who created or will create this representation? Why?
  • What power dynamics does this representation draw from, interrupt or recreate?

Avoid appropriation. Avoid extraction. Avoid tokenism. Avoid exploitation.

If your representation includes a request from Indigenous people  for information, time, energy, knowledge, and work, please see Consultations. 


Images & Documentation

Ask before using images from our website or creating representations of our work beyond educational sharing. If you are engaged in a project hoping to use or create representations, please use our inquiry form and allow time for us to engage our decision making processes.


Consultations

A consultation is a request for information, a discussion and/or feedback. This is an important and essential way to engage with Indigenous voices, perspectives and leadership. If your project includes or represents indigenous people, culture, land etc, ask for Indigenous guidance and participation in its creation.


A consultation could be an informational such guidance in development of land acknowledgements or requests for feedback on a project. Some consultations are cultural and are referred to the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation (Ohlone).

Please keep in mind there are many sensitive issues around access to Indigenous representations. Sometimes, even efforts that start with an idea of being respectful, inclusive or supportive can end up impacting Indigenous people in a way that is extractive and exploitive.


  • What is your intention with this information or representation?
  • Who will have access to the project, research, interview, etc?
  • How can you make this a more transformative interaction?

Please spend time with our questions for reflection before reaching out for a consultation. To request a consultation please use our Inquiry Form.


Boundaries

Avoid contacting people through personal social media platforms, family or in person with requests. The fastest way to get a response is our request form. Refrain from using and participating in Indigenous medicines and ceremonies that are known closed practices or not from your own lineage. Treat us as you would any other expert in their field. Allow Indigenous people to speak on behalf of their own lived experience.


Fundraisers

Hosting fundraising through your networks and communities is a great way to support our work. If you are going to host a fundraiser please make sure to send us an email first. Please use the following fundraising accountability practice: if you publicly post our name to collect money on our behalf, we request also publicly posting your donation receipts.


We appreciate fundraising support efforts and also encourage institutional allies to move beyond sales based percentage fundraisers, to give Institutional Shuumi Land Tax, to link their personal or business fundraisers directly to our website, to distribute our outreach materials, to redistribute.

Pay Shuumi! Or your local honor/land tax! Contribute to the Rematriate the Land Fund!


Land Acknowledgements

There are many different practices and protocols around land acknowledgements. Historically, there are always Indigenous traditions around ways of acknowledging and entering other peoples ancestral territories.

Today, many organizations, institutions, cities and every type of entity of all different backgrounds are beginning to practice land acknowledgement as a way to recognize a small piece of this history and present day reality.


There are many resources around land acknowledgments created by Indigenous people. Sogorea Te’s “So You Want To Do A Land Acknowledgement” resource was created as a way to navigate our own land acknowledgement collaborations. This resource is available on our website!


Land Acknowledgements are not reparations. Go beyond acknowledgement.

Indigenous people are still here. Acknowledging the original people of every land you are on is important. Please do so in a respectful way. Just “acknowledging” occupation or presence on Indigenous lands with no other relationship or action, actually recreates extraction and erasure. We encourage our allies to engage more deeply. We also always encourage “Action Steps”, to take the acknowledgement into a relationship of reciprocity and go beyond performative or extractive practices.


Do Your Part! Take Action!

For those settling in the East Bay, pay your Shuumi Land Tax! For those outside of the East Bay and interested in supporting our work, contribute to the Rematriate the Land Fund! Do you have access to land, opportunities, equipment, skills, funds? See how you can use those resources to aid the efforts of Indigenous people! If you don’t have disproportionate resources, maybe you can share something else or maybe you know someone who does.


Thank You!

Thank you for engaging with us. We appreciate you. – Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.

This is a collectively created living document and may change as we develop our processes.


Download the full How to Come Correct file to share with your communities, colleagues, classes, and more!

How-to-Come-Correct-2.0-InfographicDownload

Resource & Graphics Designed and Edited by Viola LeBeau

Photos by Ines Ixierda, Eliana Hernandez, and Niko Niumeitolu

Primary Sidebar

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

Donate Now

SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

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.

Pay Shuumi

Footer

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”
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · Log in