Tools
Ways to show up for Native communities, beyond a gift.
Write a land acknowledgment
A short guide to naming the Native nations whose land you are on, and saying it with care.
- Look up whose land you are on today.
- Learn that nation's correct name and how to say it.
- Name the land, the people and their ongoing presence.
- Say what you will do next, then follow through.
Go beyond the acknowledgment
Ideas for actions that back up your words, from giving money to returning land.
Native Governance CenterPay a land tax
A voluntary monthly payment from people living on Lisjan Ohlone land that helps return land to Ohlone people.
- Find out whose land you live or work on.
- Look for a land tax run by that nation.
- Pick an amount you can give every month.
- Set it up as a recurring gift.
How land taxes work
A plain explainer on voluntary land taxes, sometimes called real rent, with examples from several regions.
Native Governance CenterBuy from Native artists
A long list of Native-owned fashion, art and jewelry businesses you can buy from directly.
- Buy from the artist or a Native-owned shop.
- Ask the seller which nation the artist belongs to.
- Skip items labeled only "Native style" or "tribal."
Avoid fake Native art
It is against federal law to sell art as Native-made when it is not, and this explains how to check.
- Get a written receipt that names the artist's tribe.
- Be careful with prices that seem too low.
- Report fakes to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.
Find whose land you're on
A map of Native territories, languages and treaties you can search by address.
Native Land DigitalLearn from the nation itself
Find the official contact and website for each federally recognized tribe, then read what they say.
- Search the directory for the nation you found.
- Visit the tribe's own website.
- Read their history, news and current needs.
- Give or show up where they ask.
Use the right words
Reporting guides from Native journalists on how to write and talk about Native people and nations.
Indigenous Journalists AssociationChange the story
Research by Native people on how Americans see Native communities and how to shift those views.
IllumiNativeTribal sovereignty basics
A primer on how tribal nations govern themselves and how they relate to the United States.
National Congress of American IndiansLearn about treaties
The story of treaties between the United States and Native nations, and why they still matter today.
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianRead Native news
Daily news from Indian Country, reported by a nonprofit newsroom led by Native journalists.
ICTTeach kids the real history
Free lessons and classroom guides about Native history and cultures, made with Native communities.
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianSupport the Indian Child Welfare Act
Learn how this law keeps Native children connected to their families and nations, and how to defend it.
National Indian Child Welfare AssociationMissing and murdered relatives
Facts, family toolkits and policy updates on violence against Native women and relatives.
National Indigenous Women's Resource CenterBack MMIP research
A Native-led group that tracks cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people and supports families.
Sovereign Bodies InstituteVisit sacred land with respect
Guidance from five tribes on how to visit Bears Ears without harming sacred and cultural sites.
Bears Ears Inter-Tribal CoalitionSkip the mascots and costumes
Why Native-themed mascots and costumes cause harm, and how communities have retired them.
National Congress of American IndiansProtect Native voting rights
Find out what blocks Native voters from casting a ballot and how to help fix it.
Native American Rights Fund