Native Conservancy

Native Conservancy protects ancestral lands, revives ocean abundance, and supports thriving Indigenous communities across coastal Alaska. As the first Alaska Native-led, Alaska Native-owned land trust in Alaska, we ensure that Alaskan Natives remain the stewards of their ancestral lands and waters. Founded by Eyak Athabascan leader Dune Lankard, a lifetime fisherman who resolved to restore his homeland in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Native Conservancy’s efforts have resulted in the protection of over one million acres of old-growth rainforests and critical salmon habitat. We’re supporting farmers in securing kelp permits, building community kelp seed nurseries, and creating a cooperative structure to improve collective power. Our motto is LandBack + OceanBack = PeopleBack: we believe that when Indigenous communities regain control of their ancestral lands and waters, they regain the ability to feed themselves, govern themselves, and build economies on their terms.