Stewards of the Southwest: 2025 New Mexico Tribal Forest & Fire Summit

On March 4-6, within the ancestral homelands of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Trees, Water & People had the privilege of co-hosting the 2025 New Mexico Tribal Forest & Fire Summit. The gathering brought together nearly 200 Tribal foresters, natural resource experts, hydrologists, community leaders, and representatives from NGOs, state and federal agencies, academic institutions, and conservation businesses to focus on successes, futures, and associated challenges for Indigenous-led conservation. 

The summit took place amidst unprecedented funding cuts, travel freezes, grant rollbacks, and a general hum of uncertainty about where the future of forest protection is headed.

But when the road ahead is uncertain, we are called to gather.

This year’s theme was “Roots for the Future: Strengthening Indigenous-led conservation,” which highlighted the efforts of Tribal and Puebloan Natural Resource Departments in post-fire restoration, wildfire mitigation, and forest protection. 

Sessions featured the work and epistemologies of Tribal leaders and stewardship experts, while also offering presentations  from non-Indigenous representatives to showcase various resources and approaches available to Tribal natural resource managers. Sessions ranged from a Tribal Leadership Panel, to a presentation about the Indigenous Guardians Network, to work sessions, and included a field trip to the Mescalero Tribal Fish Hatchery. 

While the planned sessions were important, it is the moments in between that quietly stitched together the impact of the Summit. Meals, breaks, bar settings and van rides are where some of the most authentic and insightful conversations occurred. Not only were participants able to discuss challenges and exchange ideas, but also gather during unpredictable times to continue weaving ourselves a strong net of support. 

I keep getting called back to the lessons from the forests we come together to care for. As we gather, we plant seeds. These seeds will sprout roots that descend far into the Earth, fruiting relationships and trust that are strong enough to withstand the winds of political volatility. Just as the trees do, we will take care of one another when crisis hits.

At TWP, our role is to support Indigenous sovereignty; a constant undercurrent of resources so that communities can decide the fate of the lands and waters in which their lives depend. These are indeed the lands and waters in which all our lives depend.

While many circumstances are out of our control, we will remain steadfast in our mission. We are prepared for the challenges ahead, and we are honored to partner with  such knowledgeable, resilient, and strong communities. 

We thank all who attended and made this gathering possible. It is with great humility that we will continue to co-host the summit, now called Stewards of the Southwest, as a resource, tribute, and celebration of Indigenous stewards.