Today, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the resilience, leadership, and unbroken presence of Indigenous peoples across California. We acknowledge that Women’s Foundation California exists on the unceded land of the Lisjan Ohlone people, and on lands that belong to hundreds of other Indigenous tribes—lands that have been stewarded, loved, and defended since time immemorial. From the Nisenan in Northern California to the Chumash along the coast, the histories of these lands are stories of care, survival, and profound knowledge that continue to guide us.
To exist here is to inherit both privilege and responsibility. The theft of land, the erasure of histories, and the oppression of Indigenous communities are not distant events—they are ongoing realities that shape the world we inhabit. And yet, within these truths lies an imperative: to act, to repair, to restore.
For us, action means accountability, reciprocity, and support for the work of Indigenous-led movements. It means amplifying voices that have been silenced, and partnering with organizations that are reclaiming what was taken. We are proud to invest in and learn from groups like Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project, Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, Friendship House Association of American Indians, CA Consortium for Urban Indian Health, and the Indian Health Council.
In particular, we recognize the work of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust in the rematriation of land—returning stolen territory to Indigenous hands, and restoring the sacred relationships between people and the earth. Since 2022, we have committed to paying an annual Shuumi Land Tax to Sogorea Te’ Land Trust as part of this ongoing responsibility. It is a small step toward honoring the principle that land is not a commodity, but a relationship—a living, breathing connection that must be nurtured, respected, and returned when possible.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is not only a moment of reflection—it is a call to action. It reminds us that justice is rooted in the soil beneath our feet, in the stewardship of communities, and in the courage to confront both history and ourselves. Today, we honor the past, acknowledge the present, and commit to working toward a future in which Indigenous peoples are centered, lands are rematriated, and power is shared justly.
Photo of Native Sisters Circle giving a land acknowledgement at our 2025 Legislative Reception.