We acknowledge and take leadership from the Sovereign Nations of the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea—our work is guided by a reverence for their stewardship and expertise of the waters and lands we work to protect.  

We are guests on this territory, and we have a responsibility to take as good care of it as possible, sharing our role in the well-being of wildlife, plants, people, and the environment—now and for generations to come. 

In our place-based work, we strive to name the ancestral connections to the places we protect. Our offices are located on Northern Straits Salish territory, and much of our work focuses on the San Juan Islands, which are the traditional territories of and of great cultural significance to the Northern Straits Salish language community. 

These lands and waters are not only where we work, but they are also deeply rooted in the history, culture, and traditions of Indigenous peoples who have lived here since time immemorial. Their connection to this land is ongoing, and their stewardship and knowledge continue to shape how these places are cared for and protected.

Friends‘ work often stretches beyond these territories into the broader Salish Sea bioregion, and there are over 80 Sovereign Nations connected to the Salish Sea. Some of our work also takes place on land from which the Lummi Nation was displaced, including many of its important cultural sites. These places are of great importance to them and their broader community of kinship networks.  

We are dedicated to building and sustaining respectful partnerships with Sovereign Nations, acknowledging that our understanding and approach evolve from the strength of relationships. Our commitment to protecting the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea is grounded in the principles of collaboration, inclusivity, and gratitude for Indigenous stewardship and knowledge.

We invite you to learn more about our work with Indigenous partners and join us in honoring and protecting the lands and waters that sustain us all.

Respect, Reciprocity, and Action  
Friends works to proactively weave relationship-building with Indigenous Peoples into our ongoing protection efforts.

Here are some examples:

• We approach land acknowledgements with intention, recognizing that they are not performative gestures or simply a box to check. Acknowledgements can feel tokenistic without meaningful action, so we carefully consider each event’s audience, intent, and location. We strive to include Indigenous speakers who ground our events and protection efforts. When appropriate, we collaborate with Indigenous voices to honor the original stewards of the land, acknowledge the ongoing presence of Indigenous communities, and lay the groundwork for meaningful dialogue and action.
  
• We seek consent or engagement on critical issues that involve usual and accustomed fishing and hunting grounds.
  
• Our staff and board prioritize participation in Indigenous led trainings, including the Indian Country 101 Training. We are committed to an ethos of continuous learning and improvement.
  
• Friends shows up as a friend to support Indigenous family gatherings to reconnect with island stories and relations. Since 2002, Friends of the San Juans has supported modern-day canoe gatherings throughout the San Juan Islands.
  
• San Juan County and other regional park entities have long imposed fees and other barriers that make it difficult for Indigenous peoples to access their homelands for events—and these challenges have only worsened in recent years. Both privatized land and fees on public lands continue to restrict Indigenous Nations and families from freely visiting their own territories. Friends and Indigenous leaders are working for the systemic changes needed to support the vitality of Indigenous presence on the islands and across the waterways.

Indigenous-Led Organizations in This Region 

We encourage you to follow these organizations by visiting their websites, signing up for their mailing lists, and exploring their social media channels.

• Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
• Children of the Setting Sun
• Coast Salish Youth Coalition
• Indigenous Climate Action
• Indigenous Environmental Network
• Lhaq’temish Foundation 
• Native Americans in Philanthropy 
• Northwest Indian College
• Northwest Treaty Tribes 
• Sacred Seas House of Tears Carvers
• Salmon Defense
• Se’Si’Le
• The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
• Washington Tribes 
• Whiteswan Environmental

Please email us at friends@sanjuans.org if you recommend that we add an organization to this list. Thank you!