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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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Radical Reciprocity

May 13, 2020 by

We were honored to discuss the COVID-19 response frontline work of two distinguished leaders building thriving and inspiring, Indigenous and poor-people-centered, mutual aid and radical redistribution movements in Navajo territory (Arizona) and here in Ohlone Territory, Huichin (Oakland, CA).

The conversation included, Klee Benally (Diné musician, traditional dancer, artist, filmmaker, & Indigenous anarchist) talking about his important work with the Navajo Nation and Lisa TIny Grey Garcia (Afro Boricua, formerly unhoused, incarcerated poverty scholar and poet) will talk about her important work here in Oakland, California. In addition, the speakers will highlight their praxis of honoring and utilizing Indigenous cultural practices, and the significance of protecting the Sacred in their movements to save lives and to create healing for our families, communities and for our Mother Earth.

  • Cultural Song Offering By Hui O Mauna Kea SF/Bay Area and Wappo/Dine activist and singer, Desirea Harp.
  • Moderated by Dr. Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu and Nazshonnii Brown.
  • Art by Inés Ixierda.
  • Sponsored by Sogorea Te Land Trust

Klee Benally is a Diné musician, traditional dancer, artist, filmmaker, & Indigenous anarchist. Klee is originally from Black Mesa and has worked nearly all of his life at the front lines in struggles to protect Indigenous sacred lands. Klee provides strategic planning and direct action training with Indigenous Action. Klee helped establish Táala Hooghan Infoshop, Protect the Peaks, and is organizing COVID-19 response with Kilani Mutual Aid, IndigenousMutualAid.org, and Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund.


Tiny (aka Lisa Gray-Garcia) is a formerly unhoused, incarcerated poverty scholar, journalist, lecturer, poet and the co–founder of POOR Magazine/Prensa POBRE/PoorNewsNetwork. She has authored over 200 stories and blogs on poverty, racism, incarceration and displacement. Some of her books are: Criminal of Poverty: Growing Up Homeless in America, and she is co-editor of, A Decolonizers Guide to A Humble Revolution and Born & Raised in Frisco and her second book, Poverty ScholarShip was released in 2019. In 2011, Tiny co-launched The Homefulness Project – a landless peoples, self-determined land liberation movement in Huchuin, Ohlone territory known as Deep East Oakland. She also co-founded a liberation school for children called Deecolonize Academy . Tiny has taught Poverty Scholarship theory and practices in Universities throughout the U.S. as well as on street corners and encampments from Columbia University to Skid Row.

In response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, POOR Magazine stood alongside other “essential” workers on the frontlines to offer mutual aid services to over 700 unhoused and no-income peoples per week across the Bay Area. They offered these communities, food, masks, gloves, and sanitation. She also launched a web-based media series titled, From Katrina to Corona – Poor People Solutions versus Government solutions. Tiny is co-editor of an anthology/resource guide called, Po Peoples survival Guide Thru Covid19 and the Crisis of Poverty which will be available on May 25, 2020.


Hui O Mauna Kea SF/Bay Area — Hui O Mauna Kea Bay Area Kia’i (protectors) are in solidarity with Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) kia’i in Hawai’i. Together they stand on the front lines to protect Mauna Kea from desecration through opposing the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on the Sacred Site that Kanaka Maoli believe is the very origin of their genealogy. Furthermore, Hui O Mauna Kea SF/Bay Area also stand in solidarity with the Ohlone, in their struggles to protect their Sacred Sites here in the Bay Area.


Keoni Rodriguez is a Kanaka Maoli/Native Hawaiian student at Stanford and has been working with Hui o Na Moku and various groups across California to advocate for Climate Justice and the for the protection of Mauna Kea. He was born and raised on Kumeyaay territory (San Diego) and is an undergraduate student in History.


Sheridan Noelani Enomoto was born of a Kanaka Maoli, Japanese and Scottish Father and an African American Mother and was raised in Tongva Lands, currently known as Los Angeles in Southern California. Sheridan Noelani lives in Huichin, and is currently an Environmental Justice Community Organizer & Policy Advocate for Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice. As an organizer, she brings awareness of the challenges between the effects of climate change, sea-level or water-level rise, shoreline communities and contaminated lands. Sheridan Noelani also supports Greenaction’s Native Nations and Indigenous Lands campaigns. In 2015, Sheridan Noelani started attending actions for Mauna Kea organized by Kumu Mikilani Young and has been supporting the Mauna Kea Movement ever since.


Co-Moderators:


Nazshonnii Brown is a mechanical engineer, designer, and cultural educator from Huichin, present-day West Oakland, by way of Arizona, Missouri, and Mississippi. She is passionate about STEAM education and advocates for exposure and opportunities for underrepresented groups. She currently works with the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust (STLT), an urban Indigenous women-led land trust that returns Indigenous land through the practices of Rematriation.


Dr. Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu, is a Tongan/Pacific Islander scholar, poet and community organizer. She is a Lecturer in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and she is a part of Sogorea Te Land Trust.

For the second installment we were joined by Klee Benally. Klee is a Diné musician, traditional dancer, artist, filmmaker, & Indigenous anarchist. Klee is originally from Black Mesa and has worked nearly all of his life at the front lines in struggles to protect Indigenous sacred lands. Klee provides strategic planning and direct action training with Indigenous Action. Klee helped establish Taala Hooghan Infoshop Protect The Peaks and is organizing COVID-19 response with Kilani Mutual Aid, IndigenousMutualAid.org, and Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund.

You can follow the series on our Zoom platform or catch the recordings on Youtube.

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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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