The Cultural Conservancy

05/05/2026

📣Please join us this Friday (5/8) for a Habitat Restoration Volunteer Day at Heron Shadow in Sebastopol, CA! 🌷🌱

Friday, May 8, 2026 from 9am-3pm

This day will focus on our riparian (wetland near a stream) zone management and Native plant work.

After a morning presentation on our vision and methods for habitat restoration we will engage in hands on work/play such as planting native perennials, plant propagation in the native nursery, and embellishing water features in the riparian zone. We will tend to the plantings we added this past winter and prepare for summer.

Your support helps us prepare for an abundant season of food and seed distribution to Native community partners across the Bay Area and beyond.

Please RSVP to attend. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-habitat-restoration-day-at-heron-shadow-registration-1988781625378?aff=oddtdtcreator

Once you have reserved your spot through Eventbrite, you will receive an email with the location address and additional details about the day. If you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected].

To learn more about our land project – Heron Shadow – please visit www.nativeland.org/heron-shadow

We're excited to share this special space with you!

04/28/2026

We’re hiring! The Cultural Conservancy is looking for a Programs Director and a Director of Development to join our team.

The Programs Director provides leadership, management, and vision to ensure that The Cultural Conservancy’s programs reflect and advance the organization’s mission, values, and strategic direction. Working in close coordination with the Executive Director and senior leadership, the Programs Director is responsible for program strategy, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability across TCC’s locations and initiatives.

The Director of Development is a mid-to-senior leadership role responsible for advancing The Cultural Conservancy’s fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and development operations. Working in close partnership with the Executive Resource Director and staff, this role supports TCC’s long-term financial sustainability by cultivating diverse, values-aligned funding sources.

Please send a cover letter expressing interest along with a CV or resume to: [email protected]

Learn more at nativeland.org/opportunities

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎🌱🪻🌾🐝As we celebrate today, let’s take a moment to appreciate the systems and relatives around us that give us life: the plants that give us air, the insects that pollinate our food, the animals that keep the balance and the people whose knowledge and care protect these important relationships. We are deeply connected with the natural world, and every choice we make has an impact on the future of our beloved planet. As we appreciate the Earth’s beauty and generosity, take a second to reflect on how we are leaving an impression and what steps we are taking to preserve and restore the land.

04/15/2026

We are delighted to present our new Native Foodways Recipe Bundle 🥬🌶️🌽🍠 now live on our site!

- Nopales cactus pad salsa
- Elderberry gummies
- Tepary beans
- Fire cider
- Cherokee Candy Roaster Squash
- Braised Market Greens
- Chile Verde

👉🏽nativeland.org/recipes or follow the link in our bio to start cooking now! 🥘

04/14/2026

04/08/2026

🔊 New podcast episode of the Native Seed Pod 🎤 out now!
Julian Lang and Tori McConnell share their journey into Káruk and Yurok language, and the deep relationship to the land it carries. Julian, a Káruk elder, is a long-time language advocate and traditional knowledge keeper. Tori, his language apprentice and the 2023-2024 Miss Indian World, brings a powerful next generation voice. This intergenerational conversation explores how language is passed on through immersion, and the resilience, care, and commitment required for its revitalization, all rooted in the landscapes where these languages were born 🌊🗣️⛰️

👉🏽listen at nativeseedpod.org, or wherever you get your podcasts!

04/01/2026

🌽 We gathered 🌞 we learned 🌱 we cooked 🔥 we feasted 🌮!

It was a joy to bring people together in San Francisco around corn stewardship, knowledge and nourishment for a workshop in partnership with Wahpepah’s Kitchen and the Crissy Field Center in the Presidio.

We learned from Nani Hopper how their Oakland restaurant nixtamalizes corn to make masa, and then how to press and cook fresh tortillas on a comal. Redbird Ed Willie guided us in making traditional corn husk dolls. We used hibiscus to dye our tortillas purple and pressed edible flowers into them for added flavor and beauty.

Thank you to all the teachers, organizers and participants who made this gathering meaningful. Together we keep these Native foodways, and all the relations that sustain them, vibrant so they may sustain us ✋🏽🪶🤚🏽

Thank you Oxo for your support of The Cultural Conservancy’s Native Foodways Program!

03/28/2026

🌱 From Leah Penniman, Food Sovereignty Activist and Co-Founder of Soul Fire Farm, at :

“Non-kin thinking is the root problem. It leads to racialized oppression and Earth-ravaging. It severs our family and relegates others to non-person. And only when you relegate others to non-person can you conceive of enacting violence upon them.”

03/25/2026

We’re excited to connect with community at Bioneers this week, returning to this gathering and remembering our long history there 🌀 TCC helped found the Indigenous Forum in 2008, working with Bioneers after a call from Melissa K. Nelson, Clayton Thomas Muller and Tom Goldtooth to create a sovereign space within the conference for Indigenous Peoples to caucus among ourselves, share ideas, and connect with allies across shared movements. From 2008-2014, TCC was lead producer of the forum with the Indigenous Environmental Network, organizing workshops, speakers and panel presentations. Special thanks to Nina Simons and Kenny Ausubel for making space for Indigenous leadership 🤲🏼

Over the years, we have presented our work on stage, screened our films and videos, curated stage art, and facilitated many connections with Indigenous partners. We’ve had the joy to collaborate numerous times with Cara Romero, their current ED and brilliant photographer, who worked with us in 2008 on the Salt Song Trail project to document the songs and stories of her Chemehuevi community.

We are so grateful to all our partners who have collaborated with us at Bioneers over the years 💫

03/18/2026

Wild Rice Salad from the Red Lake Nation 🌾
Known as Manoomin meaning ‘good seed or good berry’ in Ojibwe, this traditional water grass marsh seed provides a superior nutritional profile and nutty flavor. Wild rice is a significant Indigenous food staple source that supports energy, metabolism, and immune function. As the heat arrives, cool off with this refreshing wild rice salad! 🥗

Ingredients
Base: Cook 1 cup uncooked wild rice in 3-4 cups of water or broth
Crunch & Texture: ½ cup nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds), celery, snap peas, pomegranate seeds, or apple
Sweetness & Tartness: ½ cup of dried cranberries, cherries, or blueberries
Freshness: ¼ cup of herbs like parsley, mint, or dill, and greens like arugula or spinach
Savory/Salty: ¼ cup Feta or goat cheese, red onion, scallions, or chickpeas
Dressing: Vinaigrette
2-4 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1-2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Mix and enjoy! 🥗

Prep Tips
Cooking: Cook the rice separately and until soft and you may need to drain excess water.
Cooling: Allow the rice to cool completely before mixing to prevent wilting the greens.
Flavor Boost: Toast the nuts to enhance their flavor and let the salad sit for at least an hour to let the dressing soak in.

Thank you for supporting TCC’s Native Foodways Program!