FAQs

We are an Indigenous led 501c3 nonprofit. 

IRRF is not associated with or represent any particular tribe or band. No tribes or advisory boards represent or manage IRRF. 

IRRF was established to support and benefit ALL Indigenous People.

We are inclusive, helping all those displaced throughout history, being here in healing & welcoming space. We seek community development and collaboration.

We do our best to operate using Indigenous values. Our decision-making is by consensus – not voting. 

We have elder positions on our Board to guide us.

Our goals are to

1. help provide a space on ancestral homelands for members of all tribes to practice cultural traditions, ceremony, and fellowship; and

2. preserve the history, culture, traditions and language of Indigenous Peoples through education and advocacy.

We have 6 corporate purposes:

1. To advocate for the inherent sovereignty and natural rights of Indigenous People, and all legal rights conferred by or available through colonial legal systems, including land use and food sovereignty;

2. To preserve the history, culture, traditions and language of Indigenous People;

3. To increase awareness of the inherent sovereignty and legal rights of Indigenous People, their history, culture, traditions and language;

4. To provide places for Indigenous People to gather in community;

5. To facilitate and provide emergency resources for Indigent People; and

6. To support the rights of the Earth, by recognizing the intrinsic value of all species and ecosystems, ensuring clean water and air, and returning human activity to a balanced, sustainable level.

No, we are not associated with or represent a non-federally or federally recognized tribe. 

IRRF is a 501c3 nonprofit established in 2021. We are an Indigenous-led board with majority of our board members enrolled or a descendant of a Federally recognized tribe. 

Tribal Advisory Groups seeks to represent the views of the descendents to a particular Federally Reconized Tribe and are under the governance of a Tribe.

IRRF does not speak on behalf of the any tribe, or represent all Indigenous People. 

Like-wise, Tribal Advisory Board do not represent or speak on behalf of IRRF. Any questions pertaining to IRRF can be directed to our Officers, any questions pertaining to Tribal directed groups can be taken to their representatives.

As an Indigenous led grassroots nonprofit, IRRF develops programs and activities, such as the annual Huckleberry Camp, the annual Indian Hemp Field Trip, student field trips to ancestral sites, and the support of Indigenous performing arts, for events and celebrations. IRRF's goals and work are for all Indigenous Peoples. 

During the fires in Okanogan County, IRRF responded with food, clothing and alternative shelter for affected Indigenous People.

IRRF encourages collaboration with all. IRRF could implement or add support to Advisory Boards ideas for programs and activities, and for establishing a Wenatchee area cultural center/community center for Indigenous people.

IRRF seeks partnerships with organizations, boards, businesses, individuals that have like-minded goals. 

IRRF does not speaking on behalf of any federally recognized tribe or non-recognized tribe or band.

We believe the scope and depth of what colonizers perpetrated on Indigenous Peoples can never truly be reconciled by reparations. What was taken or destroyed can never be fully restored.

By the colonizers dominant culture acknowledging the trauma created by past actions, there is opportunity to produce meaningful change for today’s Indigenous people.

The colonizer dominant culture must act intentionally, with public acknowledgement of past actions and provide the truths how Indigenous people were intentionally eliminated and their lands, cultures and languages taken. There must be accountability which may include financial compensation, return or unrestricted use of/access to ancestral lands, and/or support for preservation of cultures and languages. The process of reparations will then begin. The process will never be complete.

IRRF continues to protect history, culture, language, the land and to create a safe space for all Indigenous Peoples to gather in community with each other. We understand there are extensive paths towards reparations and our goal is to work together. 

Indigenous people are the original stewards of this land. Throughout history, we have shared a relationship with the land, living in reciprocity of the abundant resources it provides.

Landback is a pathway for Indigenous people to establish sovereign space that honors our waterways, ecosystems, and cultural traditions in a purposeful manner without causing harm.

LandBack is not necessarily about the transfer of land. The Indigenous People never contemplated that they owned the land.

All money raised through Mary’s efforts was transferred to IRRF and has been deposited to a restricted account to be used only for LandBack purposes. The collection of donations and the transfer to IRRF was reviewed by a CPA and the IRRF general counsel. Tracking IRRF’s donations received and the use of funds so generously provided is reviewed at least annually by our CPA and reported to the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Washington in order to maintain our nonprofit status and 501c3 status.

IRRF’s financial information is reviewed by a Certified Public Accountant and reported annually to the Internal Revenue Service and the Washington State Secretary of State Charities Division.

IRRF hired an outside consultant to work with our Treasurer, CPA and General Counsel to create an Inaugural Report. The Inaugural Report is available on the IRRF website.

Other requests can be directed to our Officers, please email info@indigenousrrf.org

Although IRRF does not speak on behalf of any tribe or band, federally recognized or not, Indigenous representation on the IRRF Board is not just important - it is essential. The connection to culture, people and land are immeasurable. Having a diverse board is important to decolonization through giving space for Indigenous voices to be heard. 

By being Indigenous led, IRRF will maintain its focus on Indigenous rights and reparations. IRRF’s decision-making will be consistent with Indigenous traditions, examples being the rejection of colonizer based governance processes and the inclusion of Elder positions on our Board.

Currently, our entire IRRF Board members are Tribal Members, with all board members having strong connections within out Indigenous communities, cultures, and practices.