Indigenous Sovereignty, ILP Ray Tollison Indigenous Sovereignty, ILP Ray Tollison

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

On March 4-6, within the ancestral homelands of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, we 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.

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Trees Water & People, MAP, ILP Ray Tollison Trees Water & People, MAP, ILP Ray Tollison

A Way Forward

Today, as millions of eyes turn towards Washington, we’re staying focused on the communities at the heart of what we do. We’ve brought together members of our team to share their perspectives on our work, our vision for the future, and our collective path forward.

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ILP, Environmental Stewardship Ray Tollison ILP, Environmental Stewardship Ray Tollison

Restoring Traditional Harvest

Traditionally, the Núchíú (Ute people) were nomadic, moving across vast ancestral lands to steward the resources, including native plants, that supported their lifeways. Today, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (UMUT) members are restricted to less than 600,000 acres of Reservation and Fee land from which to collect traditional plants, year after year.

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Indigenous Sovereignty Ray Tollison Indigenous Sovereignty Ray Tollison

Looking Forward: Working the Land for Future Generations

Indigenous lands are ancestral lands. Ancestral lands are all lands.

This is an echo of the survival and resiliency of our ancestral lineage from the elders to the youth. In New Mexico there are twenty three sovereign Tribal nations that steward the land for preservation, restoration, protection, education and peace. These are the same beliefs our ancestors upheld and passed on through generations.

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Bridging Cultures: Championing Indigenous Sovereignty

It is satisfying to know that people around the world are intrigued with Indigenous Peoples and support the feats being endured. Working with Trees, Water & People (TWP), I have learned that this is one of our best and strongest virtues. We bring like-minded people to the table and our organization to move our mission and virtues forward.

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ILP, Indigenous Lands Program Ray Tollison ILP, Indigenous Lands Program Ray Tollison

The American Bison

The American Bison is a keystone species that was almost eradicated from the landscape in America in less than 80 years by the United States and its citizens. The number of bison on the ground in North America was estimated to be between 20-60 million between the 1600’s and 1800’s.

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25 for 25 Ray Tollison 25 for 25 Ray Tollison

What’s Next?

TWP’s next chapter will be a beautiful one — marked by new partnerships and alliances, greater impact, and a stronger, more diverse network stretching from the Rocky Mountains to Central America. We’re building on our success as a convener of talented local organizations, and providing them with resources to create change in the communities they serve. We’re betting on the next generation, and developing talent among young people that want to steward the earth, advance equity, and improve their societies from within.

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25 for 25 Ray Tollison 25 for 25 Ray Tollison

Forward Motion

For the past 25 years TWP has been fortunate to call Fort Collins home. This comes with the responsibility and commitment of honoring and respecting the people who lived on the lands before our organizational existence. To honor these people and educate the communities of Northern Colorado, we collaborated with Native western artist, Isaiah Stewart, to revitalize the rich stories of Native Peoples, cultural landmarks and majestic wildlife back into the communities.Through various community meetings and engagement events, the Indigenous community mural came to life in south Fort Collins. "This mural is about forward motion: the three buffalo signifying Native people moving forward towards future generations", Stewart mentions. From now on, this place will be a space for community gathering, Indigenous events and a place to honor the rich values Native peoples bring to our life.

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Hope and Community Strength

One year ago, my beloved home state of New Mexico experienced its worst wildfire in recorded history. The aftermath of the fire has displaced centuries-old communities, devastated critical ecosystems and challenged how land management policies need to be refined. Even with support and resources, the road to recovery remains long and challenging.

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