How Strong Partnerships Braid Conservation Through the National Native Conservation Network

September 2025 | Rocky Mountain Regional Summit | Billings, MT

Last month, the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) is proud to host the second annual gathering of the National Native Conservation Network (NNCN) during the Rocky Mountain Regional Summit. Formed through collaboration among six Tribal-led organizations, the NNCN continues to expand on place-based conservation and shared learning with Tribal producers.

The NNCN integrates Tribal leadership in shaping land stewardship to contribute to healthy and strong food systems. By combining Traditional Ecological Knowledge with modern conservation tools and USDA support, the NNCN creates pathways for Tribal producers to access the resources they need.

Meet the Partners

The founding Tribal-led partner organizations bring unique expertise and perspective:

Intertribal Agriculture Council As the convener of the NNCN, IAC brings decades of experience in advancing Tribal agriculture, conservation, and economic sovereignty, ensuring Tribal producers have access to resources and advocacy at the national level.
InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC)  ITBC leads efforts to restore buffalo to Tribal lands, strengthening cultural identity, food sovereignty, and ecosystem health through conservation and herd management.
Intertribal Timber Council (ITC)  ITC represents Tribal forest managers and communities, advocating for sustainable forestry, wildfire resilience, and the integration of traditional ecological knowledge into national forestry policy.
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) CRITFC unites member Tribes to protect salmon and water ecosystems, advancing fisheries restoration, habitat protection, and Tribal treaty rights across the Columbia River Basin.
United South & Eastern Tribes (USET) USET supports a broad network of Tribal Nations across the eastern U.S., strengthening natural resource management, policy advocacy, and conservation capacity in diverse ecosystems.
Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA) INCA focuses on empowering Tribal producers with conservation tools, training, and technical assistance to build capacity at the community level and promote sustainable stewardship.

Together, these six partners offer a collective voice advancing Tribal-led conservation, resource management, and land stewardship across Indian Country.

Conservation nonprofits, agencies, and other partners can connect with the NNCN by attending partner events, sharing resources, or amplifying stories of impact. If you are the director of a conservation organization and would like to explore potential collaborations, please contact IAC through Strategy Associate Chief of Staff Camryn Ganje at camryn@indianag.org or one of our partners.