The following visual depicts our approach: concentric circles composed of parallel strategies radiating around a circle of core values, and hence an enduring vision. Each concentric circle is in some way aligned with and/or accountable to the inner circles, allowing us to see how each aspect of the work our partners do relates to the whole. In this way, there are no separate program areas, rather distinctions in nuance and approach. The intent here, for our part, is to pay attention to relationship, holistic methodology, and stay accountable to our vision, with an emphasis on balance and inter-relationships across all four circles. The Circular Approach embodies our philosophy, principles, and values that define our mission and is our comprehensive holistic approach to programs. Indigenous Peoples around the world use processes similar to manage complexity in their biocultural systems. We therefore are deeply indebted to the Elders who have carried these traditions into contemporary times.

These partners are Indigenous peoples’ organizations, NGOs, movements, collectives, networks, land defenders, farmers, local communities, community-based organizations, and social movements, whose work most closely aligns with protecting Mother Earth, maintaining, nurturing and perpetuating knowledge, and cultural and spiritual lifeways. 

Strategies include: Farming, wild harvesting, language revitalization, protection and promotion of Indigenous traditional knowledge and innovations, cultural affirmation, community learning and revitalization land protection, biodiversity conservation and use, regenerative and solidarity economies/enterprises, policy from the ground up, local implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and integrated mitigation-adaptation to climate change.

These partners are community-based organizations, cooperatives and small business collectives, grassroots NGO’s, and Indigenous led foundations whose goal is collective envisioning of alternative futures with more diversity, resilience, harmony, equity and justice. 

Strategies include: Inclusive local solidarity economy building, land and/or infrastructure, community-owned energy, regenerative and agroecological approaches to farming, localized food systems, ground-up legal and policy advocacy.

These partners include regional and international NGOs, indigenous and social movements, research organizations, and human rights organizations whose goal is knowledge co-production, learning, providing strategic support to indigenous and local community initiatives threatened by state, corporate, or other forces; advocacy and actions towards changing unjust systems, enabling new forms of partnerships and alliances to advocate, support, protect and promote the spread and deepening of initiatives in the Core and Inner circles.

Strategies include:  Research that challenges and problematizes technocratic solutions such including GMO’s, gene drives, geo-engineering, or otherwise supports and advances real solutions such as agroecology and Indigenous based approaches to farming and land management, publishing reports, articles, policy, legal advocacy and/or alliance building to call out land grabs, false solutions, human rights abuses.

These partners are philanthropic alliances and networks motivated by promoting systemic change through solidarity philanthropy, specific media organizations and/or initiatives.

Strategies include: Philanthropic education, funders networks, investigative reporting.