Why Nobody Makes the First Call
Here's a communication problem we run into far too often. A land trust wants a real relationship with the Tribes whose homelands they steward. They know they should reach out. And they want to do it. But they can't figure out how to write the email without it sounding presumptuous or otherwise wrong. So they never send it.
They’re right to hesitate. Tribal offices have seen that kind of outreach before. Other organizations did send similar emails that went nowhere. Either the tone was off from the start, or something else prevented a meaningful conversation from developing. So even when the email gets sent, the odds of that outreach leading to a positive outcome aren’t particularly high.
Both sides have a vested interest in making a difference. But there’s a standoff because neither knows how to sensibly move first.
Redbud can offer two things in this situation: cultural credibility and a track record we can lend to that land trust. An introduction from us changes how the first message is perceived. And of course, we don’t just help with introductions, but also with what comes afterwards.
Due to one of our programs, a network of more than 300 active leaders and partners has formed. Thirty-four conservation organizations and public agencies have completed a nine-month program that has given their teams the language, relationships, and internal accountability structures to make changes to how they engage with Tribes. Those changes have shown up in budgets, in board composition, in land access agreements, and in land returned.
Redbud’s 2026 Impact Report tells more of that story. It gives an inside view into what it means to solve these kinds of communication problems. And it shows why it’s worth it.
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