Indigenous Communities Doing Good

Stories of Indigenous activists and communities making a difference — plus, ways you can support their work

An aerial view of a forest, a sea of green trees

Bolivia's Indigenous communities have helped protect nearly 1 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest

Bolivia has created four new protected areas covering 907,244 hectares (2.2 million acres) of Amazon lowlands and Andean highlands.

Hawaii youth force state to commit to decarbonizing entire transportation network

The historic agreement comes two years after 13 youth plaintiffs sued the state Department of Transportation.

Two images side-by-side. On the left, a Barbie version of ballerina Maria Tallchief wears a red tutu and head dress in front of a blue background. On the right, a black and white photo of Maria Tallchief during her years as a prima ballerina

Meet the newest Barbie: Maria Tallchief, America's first prima ballerina and member of Osage Nation

With the release of the doll, Mattel will also make a donation to the Center for Native American Youth.

A young Native American girl stands at the edge of a green field

From eviction to co-stewardship: Indigenous communities reclaim park lands

From the Grand Canyon to Yosemite, Indigenous leadership is guiding restoration, protecting land, water, and culture.

Indigenous tribe revives beaver population to boost Sierra Nevada's wildfire resilience

Beavers were once abundant in North America. Bringing them back could have serious climate benefits.

An entrance to a cave under a grass hill

Site with 12,000 year Indigenous history may soon be the next national park

The 3,000-acre park protects land and features important to the Mississippian culture, which built the mounds there starting roughly 3,000 years ago.

A sign for Dolly Sodds Wilderness sits in a grassy area, overlooking trees

Leaving wilderness alone isn't always the best way to protect it, experts say. Here's what they suggest instead

In a time when lands are experiencing the effects of climate change, protecting wild spaces may require action, not inaction.

An open computer with a screen full of code.

Teens remix songs by Indigenous artists in coding camp

Artists involved in the program include Dakota Bear, Jayli Wolf, Samian, Twin Flames, and Aysanabee.

A shark lies on wet sand near the shore with several people standing nearby observing it.

Indigenous community trades shark-fishing for conservation in Colombia: 'From hunter to protector'

While Indigenous communities still see shark as a valuable source of protein, their fishing methods have changed drastically.

A mountain lion walks through tall grass and brush at night, looking toward the camera with a kill visible in the lower right corner.

Family sells 136-year-old farm to make way for wildlife crossing deemed 'a lifeline' for mountain lions

The I-5 wildlife crossing would bridge the Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula.

Video: Indigenous knowledge helps design wildlife crossings reducing collisions by 71%

Previously known as one of Montana’s most dangerous roads, Highway 93 was upgraded to include 42 wildlife crossings that were built based on Indigenous traditional knowledge and values.

Paving a Path for Justice: 7 Runners Making a Difference to Follow on Instagram

We profiled seven runners using running as a platform to build community and fight for justice — for both people and the planet.