This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we invite you to listen to Indigenous wisdom and remember the history Indigenous Peoples have endured. The struggles we all face today — ecological destruction, the separation of children from families, broken treaties, and the erosion of sacred lands — are not new. Indigenous Peoples have long endured these injustices.

Amid budget cuts to schools, hospitals, and land protections, and in the face of ongoing violence, we cannot lose courage or hope. This is a time for “every effort to the front lines.”

Hope is scarce but essential. It fuels resilience and makes the impossible possible. We remain committed to lifting up stories of restoration and resistance — art transforming consciousness, youth-led legal movements, rivers running free.

For every crisis, there is a solution. On this day and throughout this month, we grieve the repetition of history’s ugliest moments and then move forward, guided by Indigenous Peoples, to build a future worthy of the next seven generations.

In that spirit, this newsletter issue highlights voices and insights from the 2025 Bioneers Indigenous Forum, along with ways to engage with Indigenous media and initiatives throughout Indigenous Peoples’ Month.

In solidarity,

The Bioneers Indigeneity Program team

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Support the Bioneers Indigenous Forum

Since 2008, the Indigenous Forum has been a sovereign space within the Bioneers Conference where Indigenous activists, scientists, elders, youth, and culture-bearers come together to share knowledge, frontline solutions, and cultural wisdom. It is the only gathering of its kind, connecting Indigenous Peoples with one another and with allies to build networks, strengthen movements, and inspire action.

Your support helps sustain this vital space — amplifying Indigenous voices, fostering cross-cultural dialogue, and ensuring Indigenous leadership continues to guide solutions for our shared future.

Support the Indigenous Forum

Art and Healing: A Conversation with Joy Harjo & Cara Romero

Art in many forms is both a spiritual practice and a survival skill for Indigenous Peoples. In this conversation, U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo and acclaimed photographer Cara Romero explore how creativity becomes a path to healing, resistance, and reconnection with ancestors and traditional knowledge.

Watch the conversation

Indigenous Roots of American Democracy

Haudenosaunee Chief Oren Lyons (Joagquisho) and Taíno Elder José Barreiro (Hatuey) join moderator Baratunde Thurston to explore the Indigenous foundations of American democracy, the legacy of Haudenosaunee diplomacy, and the resurgence of Indigenous self-governance principles worldwide. In a time of climate and democracy crises, this conversation offers both urgency and hope.

Watch the conversation

Indigenous Regenerative Land Management

California Indian leaders Aja Conrad (Karuk), Elizabeth Paige (Cahuilla), Ali Meders-Knight (Mechoopda), and Jordan Reyes (Tribal EcoRestoration) share stories of restoring land and water through traditional practices like fire management, plant knowledge, and regenerative harvesting. Moderated by Eriel Deranger, the panel also offers practical guidance on building partnerships and sustaining long-term collaborations.

Watch the conversation

TAKE ACTION: 9 Films to Bring Indigenous Stories to Your Community

This Indigenous Peoples’ Month, we invite you to share the power of Indigenous storytelling. Across the continent, Indigenous filmmakers are creating remarkable documentaries and features that honor resilience, cultural survival, and ecological knowledge.

Hosting a screening—whether at your school, workplace, or community space—is a meaningful way to spark dialogue, strengthen connections, and celebrate Indigenous voices.

Explore our list of groundbreaking films, from Sugarcane and Resident Orca to Tiger and more, and consider bringing one to your community.

See the list

Remembering Malcolm Margolin

We mourn the passing of Malcolm Margolin (1940–2025), founder of Heyday Books and a tireless advocate for Indigenous cultural renewal in California. Through The Ohlone Way, News from Native California, and decades of publishing, mentoring, and bridge-building, Malcolm opened space for Native voices and stories that had too often been silenced.

Described as “a mighty redwood of a man,” his legacy lives on in the Indigenous writers, cultural leaders, and movements he supported. We honor his memory with gratitude for the paths he helped to open.