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Most clinicians working with Native patients have no intention to act improperly. Yet they don’t even know what “improperly” means. They aren’t trained to understand Tribal practice and they haven’t been taught much about the history that explains why a Native family might walk into a hospital feeling already braced. The standard cultural sensitivity session offered to clinical staff during onboarding creates some awareness. It cannot manufacture competency within an hour or

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 t

By Taylor Pennewell, Co-founder, Executive Director At a recent Feather River Advocacy Project convening with the State Water Resources Control Board, we took a group photo on the roof of the California Natural Resources Agency building. As we gathered, several participants said some version of the same thing: I can’t believe we are here. Simply entering that building felt like a major step. For generations, decisions about the Feather River have been made in government offic

August 7, 2026: RRR Closing, Group Photo with Family and Friends There's good medicine in the people of this land. Old medicine. Like seeds that have gone dormant after generations of fire suppression, the seed isn't dead. It's sitting beneath the surface, patiently waiting to be awoken. Then good fire moves through, the conditions change, and suddenly life that hasn't been seen in years starts coming back. Restoring Right Relations (RRR), Redbud's Native leadership developm

Feather River Advocacy Project (FRAP) participants enjoy the scenic view of the Feather River from the banks. The sand and river stones shifted beneath our feet as we followed a narrow path along the Middle Fork of the Feather River. Cool air rose from the water, mixing with a warm breeze, carrying the sweet fragrance of mint and willow. Beside us, the river sang through a corridor of deep green sedges, willow thickets, mugwort, lupine, goldenrod, and countless other plant re

Photo: Together Bay Area Spring Conference, May 13, 2026 at the Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA I have learned a great deal from making cordage. Cordage by itself is a braid of string, but when you wrap it around stalks of tule, it can make a boat. When you tie cordage around sticks of willow, it can make a house. Cordage, when applied, can be a useful vehicle of change and transformation. Cordage can also teach you how to collectively build power. As a program mana

Recently, I attended a water policy public hearing in Sacramento. Around the table were representatives from agriculture, dam operations, conservation, fisheries, and Tribal communities, each invited to explain why their priorities should shape California’s next water plan. Farmers spoke about crop failure without reliable water. Ecologists warned that diverting too much water from rivers would push keystone species toward collapse. Others proposed compromise solutions, maint

In January, at the Feather River Tribal Health center, a circle of healthcare providers formed at the end of a long day. Not the kind of circle you rush through, but one you settle into, shoulder to shoulder, letting the room grow quiet. Voices moved one at a time. Some carried gratitude. Some carried honest discomfort- the kind that surfaces when you realize how much you were never taught. All spoke with resolve. We listened as providers named what they would carry back wit

By: Taylor Pennewell, Co-founder, Executive Director Huddled together on a platform at the base of the Lake Oroville Barrier Dam, we watched as hundreds of salmon leapt with all their might, out of the Feather River and toward home. Deep in their DNA, the call of home was fierce, the songs, the smells, and the memories pulled them like a magnet from the ocean back to the waters of their ancestors. Desperate and determined to return, they hurled themselves from the water, only

7 Do's, Don'ts, and Guidance for Teachers By Trelasa Baratta, Education Specialist, Redbud Resource Group As we reflect on Indigenous Peoples’ Day and prepare for Native American Heritage Month, we’re reminded of the power and relevance of Indigenous teachings in the classroom. We believe that integrating Indigenous perspectives into education isn’t a seasonal act. It’s a year-round commitment to honoring Native voices, respecting Tribal sovereignty, and deepening our relatio