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The Onondaga are one of the five original nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy in North America. Many Native Americans revere the Peacemaker as a manifestation of God. Their constitution, the Great Law of Peace, is said to have been written by the Great Peacemaker. Peace, unity, and collective decision-making among nations are emphasized. October 2024 saw the return of more than 1,000 acres of land in the Tully Valley of central New York State to the Onondaga people. A Healing and Caretaking Plan was being developed that reflects their Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and the Onondaga people are also committed to restoring habitat and ecosystems to protect the animal-people within the land.The Shasta people are the Indigenous Americans of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. The Shasta people honor the spirits and celebrate the cycles of life in a ceremony called “the Jump Dance.” The Shasta people also harvest plants in a sustainable way that emphasizes respect for nature. In October 2024, the Shasta Nation and Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) jointly announced that 2,800 acres of land was returned to the Shasta people.The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian nation in the United States. Their homes, called hogans, are built with natural materials. The Navajo culture honor holy figures such as the Changing Woman, the Hero Twins, and the Sun, who are believed to possess supernatural power and unique wisdom. As of September 2019, over 155,000 acres were returned to the Navajo people. Then, by November 2022, an additional 49,000 acres were purchased and transferred to the Navajo Nation.The Colville Confederation has twelve bands, each contributing to a tapestry of traditions, languages, and stories. In October 2021, through a purchase, the Seattle-based Conservation Northwest helped the Colville Nation successfully regain ownership of 9,243 acres in the Tunk Valley of Okanogan County, Washington.
