- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
On Wednesday, NDN Fund announced the successful closing of a loan with the Native Conservancy, an Indigenous-led land trust based in Alaska’s Copper River Delta. As the impact investment arm of NDN Collective, NDN Fund provides braided capital—combining financing with capacity and power-building support—to Indigenous-owned and led businesses working to strengthen their communities.
Founded in 2003, Native Conservancy is dedicated to habitat restoration, land and ocean protection, Landback and Oceanback initiatives, and food sovereignty through its Stewardship Fund. The organization’s mission is to create resilient futures for Indigenous Peoples by preserving, repatriating, and restoring ancestral homelands, traditional foodways, and subsistence practices to revitalize Native culture, health, and spirituality.
This latest loan builds on NDN Fund’s continued support of Landback efforts in the Copper River Delta. Previously, NDN Fund backed the Giyah Boat Company—an enterprise of Native Conservancy—which successfully repaid its initial loan. This repayment helped pave the way for further financing of the parent organization, demonstrating the strength of NDN Collective’s braided capital strategy: a holistic approach that combines financial investment with ongoing support for capacity and power building.
"Our continued support to Native Conservancy recognizes the vitally important work that they do as a global conservation organization dedicated to protecting the lands and waters on which all life depends,” said Kim Pate, Managing Director of NDN Fund. “This LANDBACK deal will have far reaching future impacts on global conservation and in supporting Indigenous ways of life and supporting healthy communities."
"Native Conservancy’s LANDBACK deal is an example of NDN Collective’s braided capital strategy that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners to strengthen support for Indigenous ways of life and protecting traditional foods for future generations,” said Aurora Warrior, Lending Officer with NDN Fund.
NDN Fund’s investment goes beyond dollars. Loan recipients like Native Conservancy receive tailored support to ensure long-term sustainability and readiness for future opportunities. This includes training, technical assistance, and strategic guidance to help them reach their goals.
With this new loan, Native Conservancy will continue advancing Landback in the region, ensuring safe waterway transportation and supporting healthy food systems, including the development of Alaska’s growing mariculture industry. The investment helps secure these resources not only for today, but for future generations.
More Stories Like This
Klamath Indigenous Land Trust Purchases 10,000 Acres as Salmon ReturnTrump signs law that revokes some limits on drilling in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve
Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation Gets 900-Acres ofLand Back
Chilkat Indian Village Tells New Palmer Mine Owners They Are “Not Welcome” in Chilkat Valley
Tribes, Coastal Group Ask Army Corps to Revoke Permit for Texas Export Terminal
Help us defend tribal sovereignty.
At Native News Online, our mission is rooted in telling the stories that strengthen sovereignty and uplift Indigenous voices — not just at year’s end, but every single day.
Because of your generosity last year, we were able to keep our reporters on the ground in tribal communities, at national gatherings and in the halls of Congress — covering the issues that matter most to Indian Country: sovereignty, culture, education, health and economic opportunity.
That support sustained us through a tough year in 2025. Now, as we look to the year ahead, we need your help right now to ensure warrior journalism remains strong — reporting that defends tribal sovereignty, amplifies Native truth, and holds power accountable.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Your support keeps Native voices heard, Native stories told and Native sovereignty defended.
Stand with Warrior Journalism today.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
