NT-2024-AR - Flipbook - Page 6
INTRODUCTION
Letter from Our
Chair of the Board
2024 was a decisive year for Nia Tero.
As we celebrated our seventh anniversary,
we continued to fulfill our commitment to
support the management and protection
of territories by Indigenous Peoples across
geographies globally.
Indigenous Peoples’ guardianship centers
on the idea that the relationship between us
and the planet is one of reciprocity. It is a
deep cultural and legal, even constitutional,
core value of Indigenous Peoples all over
the planet.
Several emblematic events and meetings
took place throughout the year, leading to
the strengthening of our partners’ work at
regional to international levels. Through
promoting knowledge exchange, increasing
capacity for grantmaking, and consistently
centering the self-determined priorities of
our partners, we have much to be proud of
as we reflect back on 2024, and much on
the horizon as we carry this work forward
in 2025 and beyond.
Pacific Ocean as seen from the Solomon Islands | Pasifik | Lauren Guzauskas
I don’t own the land;
I belong to the land.
The land owns me.
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From the historic meeting of Nia Tero’s
Amazonian partners in Bogotá, Colombia,
to partners coming together from across
the Pacific during FestPAC in Hawai'i, to
the global gathering of Wayfinders Circle
members in Mongolia, to our participation
during NYC Climate Week and COP16 in
Cali, Colombia, 2024 was a dynamic and
energetic year, filled with newer and
ever-stronger bridges built between and
amongst Indigenous Peoples and their
non-Indigenous allies.
In 2024, Nia Tero also took two very
important steps towards its new cycle
of support for Indigenous Peoples: 1) we
finalized our new 5-year strategic plan,
which we look forward to sharing in early
2025, and 2) we prepared for the first
leadership transition in the history of
the organization.
Our co-founder and friend, Peter Seligmann,
passed the baton to 'Aulani Wilhelm, whom
we as a board unanimously selected for the
role after an extensive international search.
'Aulani, who is Kanaka 'Ōiwi, born and
raised in Hawai'i, is uniquely qualified with
her breadth of experience, knowledge, and
deep commitment to the mission and values
Nia Tero stands for. I’m excited for our Nia
Tero community to welcome her in this new
capacity. I also look forward to continuing
to collaborate with Peter on our board. He
has our infinite gratitude for the service he
provided during the first seven years of
Nia Tero.
As we look back on the year past and look
ahead to our next five years and beyond,
thank you for being part of this work with us.
We can only do this work together with you
all, our partners, our allies, our supporters,
our team.
With appreciation,
JOSEPH WILLIAMS
Nia Tero Chairman of the Board
Nia Tero
Annual Report 2024
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