The Native California Research Institute (NaCRI) is a Native-led organization dedicated to preserving the cultural lifeways, languages, and histories of California’s Indigenous peoples amid intensifying threats to land, water, and heritage. As wildfires, drought, climate change, and unchecked development continue to damage ancestral territories and erase sacred sites, NaCRI works to protect what remains and revitalize what can be passed on. Their efforts uplift Native knowledge systems and practices of care, whether through restoring cultural landscapes, defending unmarked burial grounds, or engaging in community-centered education and healing. Among its many initiatives, NaCRI observes Red Dress Day to raise awareness about missing and endangered Indigenous people, promoting Native-led responses to justice, memory, and cultural survival. At the heart of their work is a guiding reminder from board member Kanyon “CoyoteWoman” Sayers-Roods: “When conducting Indigenous cultural, archival and educational projects, always keep in mind, ‘Nothing About Us Without Us.’”
Wildflower bloom in California. Photo: NaCRI
Established as a nonprofit in 2020, NaCRI is run by a 13-person board chaired by Dr. Beverly Ortiz and composed primarily of Native people Indigenous to California. Four committees oversee cultural, archival, site preservation projects, and the California Indian Conference. These efforts support the 110 federally recognized California tribes through curated museum exhibits, contributions to Indigenous archives, and the protection of heritage sites. NaCRI plays an important role in tribal consultations regarding millions of acres of national forest and public lands. These consultations are legally required but have also become re-emphasized amid the climate crisis and a growing appreciation of Indigenous knowledge. These relationships have expanded in many instances to include co-stewardship and co-management. Central to NaCRI’s work is the California Indian Conference, now in its fourth decade. The CIC is the sole forum for the sharing of knowledge, scholarship, and issues of importance related to Native California.
Wildflower bloom in California. Photo: NaCRI