Ancestral Homelands Reciprocity Program

Our mission is to support and uplift the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe through a community-generated initiative to provide ongoing financial support

*homa kani*

Our vision is to raise visibility and awareness of the Nisenan so all who work and live in the Bear and Yuba River watersheds can come together to honor the original peoples of this land.
By contributing to the stability and restoration of the Nisenan we can begin to transform our community and our culture into one based on integrity and respect for the rights of all beings.

What is Reciprocity?

“It’s a responsibility. Holding each other up is reciprocity. ”

— Shelly Covert, Tribal Spokesperson, Nevada City Rancheria

SUPPORT nevada city rancheria nisenan

We acknowledge

These are the ancestral homelands of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe.
This land was taken repeatedly with no compensation or regard for the lives and ways of the original people, until they had no land left.
We are settlers here, that we live, love and work on land the Nisenan never ceded.
The sovereignty of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe, despite lack of federal recognition.
Together we can amend the tragic legacy of the past.
We can’t change history but we have the power to change our future.
The Ancestral Homelands Reciprocity Program is a way to begin.

“As an organic farmer I am in daily relationship with the soil, water, and air of this particular place. Contributing financially to the Ancestral Homelands Reciprocity Program is an opportunity to expand on the limited impacts of mere acknowledgements; both supporting the Nisenan in their efforts to restore the federal recognition of their tribal sovereignty AND helping to strengthen the much-needed indigenous-led conservation of sacred lands, waters, air and wildlife. But almost as important, my business gives in the hopes that our contribution, alongside the collective contributions for our community at large, give the tribe the feeling of being seen, honored, and supported by those around them.”

— Maisie Ganz - Soil Sisters Farm

“Bear Yuba Land Trust is proud to contribute monthly to the Nisenan Ancestral Homelands Reciprocity Program. Recognizing Nisenan People as the original stewards of the land in BYLT’s conservation service area is a first step in finding meaningful ways to help lift up the Tribe’s history, legacy, and present-day community’s priorities.”

— Bear Yuba Land Trust

SUPPORT nevada city rancheria nisenan

Our Program

Participation is open to all who live in the Bear and Yuba watersheds.

Hundreds of residents, homeowners, landowners and businesses make recurring contributions to the tribally guided 501(c)3 California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP). Our goal is to grow the number of these monthly or annual contributions in order to meet the financial, social and cultural needs of the Nisenan Tribe so that all members of the Nisenan Tribe may thrive here in their ancestral homelands.

How much is appropriate to give?

How much do you benefit from living here? Did you meet your partner here? Did you have and/or raise your children here? Do you farm or garden and enjoy fruits of the land? Do you take hikes and enjoy the nature here – the beautiful Oak and Cedar trees, the Yuba and Bear rivers? Did you start a business or are you employed by a business here? Do you love the place you live?

A healthy cycle of reciprocity is fueled by an understanding that we should give to the same degree that we receive. Remember that no offering is too small (don’t create a hardship for yourself and perpetuate the system of exploitation from which we are freeing ourselves in this process) but really....No offering is too great. Give big.

Is a one-time contribution acceptable?

One-time donations are welcome; however, the Ancestral Homelands Reciprocity Program requires a recurring monthly or annual contribution.

Your recurring voluntary contribution can be

a percentage of monthly or annual income
a flat or fixed monthly or annual contribution
a percentage of sales of a product
a percentage of the annual value of your property (for reference: Nevada County property tax is 1% of current assessed value)
Other ways people/businesses do it

Where does my contribution go?

All funds benefit CHIRP (California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project), which was created to preserve, protect and perpetuate Nisenan culture. Some of the initiatives for which CHIRP needs support include

Advocating for federal RE-recognition as a Tribe
Establishing a place of permanence for the Tribe, including a local cultural center, library and museum
Land stewardship and protecting sacred sites
Recovering their lost language and artifacts
Educating the local community

What does the wellbeing of the NCRN people have to do with me?

We indirectly benefit from the continued injustices suffered by the Nisenan people. Had the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe not been forcibly removed from their land, they would still be the caretakers here. In that scenario, if we wanted to move here, what would we do?

Acknowledge the people who were here before us;
Ask their permission to make a home here; and
[If they said yes] give an offering or make an exchange in return for the opportunity to be here.

It’s not too late to right the wrongs of the past and take these steps ourselves. We can’t change history but we have the power to change our future. By contributing to the stability and restoration of the the original people of this land we can begin to transform our community and our culture into one based on integrity and respect for the rights of all beings.

Supporting Businesses

We encourage you to shop local and support the businesses who financially contribute to the mission and vision of the Ancestral Homelands Reciprocity Program. Click for a list of supporting businesses.