As we honor Indigenous Peoples Day, we reflect on the ongoing repercussions of settler colonialism and the violence Indigenous communities continue to endure. The theft of Indigenous land is not simply a historical event but an ongoing reality, one that demands reckoning with the complicity of both the past and our present. The legacies of colonization, from broken treaties to complete erasure, shape our fight for justice today and continue to inform how we build a more equitable future for all of us. This reflection also compels us to acknowledge that these harms are not confined to the past—ongoing genocides, whether cultural, ecological, or systemic, persist today. As we stand in solidarity with Indigenous movements, we must commit to dismantling the structures of oppression that continue to silence and harm Indigenous communities across the globe.
At Women’s Foundation California, we are building a multigenerational, cross-cultural movement in which grassroots communities are healthy, safe, and prosperous. We are co-creating a future where systems operate with love and justice, driven by the values that anchor our work: Alegría, a profound joy that radiates resilience even in the face of adversity; Power, rooted in collaboration and justice, fueling bold transformations; and Belonging, a sense of interconnectedness that strengthens our shared struggles and builds a united community.
In recognizing the ongoing genocides unfolding across the world, we are reminded of the deep parallels between the violence faced by First Nations peoples globally. From the original inhabitants of the Americas to the Indigenous peoples of Africa, this violence is rooted in the same colonial structures that prioritize domination and exploitation over coexistence. Our work calls for a united global commitment to human rights and the dismantling of systems that perpetuate ethnic cleansing, displacement, and state violence. We must stand with all Indigenous peoples as they fight for sovereignty, justice, and the protection of their lands and cultures.
Our commitment to Indigenous communities goes beyond acknowledgment. We recognize that we live and work on stolen land, and we take tangible actions to support rematriation and returning Indigenous land to Indigenous hands. We partner with Indigenous-led organizations and are dedicated to continuing this work. Through powerful collaboration, trust, and the redistribution of resources, we are healing from the traumas of colonialism and moving toward a future grounded in reciprocity and true belonging.
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we invite you to take action: honor Indigenous stories, offer reparations, pay Shuumi, and support Indigenous leaders, artists, and organizers. Together, with alegría, we are building a feminist future rooted in love, rematriation, and solidarity.
Here are a few of our current and past grant partner organizations that we wholeheartedly endorse and encourage you to consider supporting: