The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

What happened

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a large conservation nonprofit headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer lists it as a 501(c)(3) with its tax exemption issued in March 1954. It is not Indigenous-led. Its Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities page says it is "continually learning and growing" in how it shows up as a conservation partner.

Several land returns involve TNC as a funder or donor, not as the lead. In October 2021 the 9,243-acre Figlenski Ranch in Okanogan County, Washington, was returned to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. A UCLA American Indian Studies Center post reprinting TNC's account says Conservation Northwest raised over $4.5 million and, with a gift of land from TNC in Washington, bought and transferred the whole ranch to the Colville Tribes.

In March 2026 TNC announced that, with its assistance and funding, the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center purchased about 600 acres from Paul Smith's College for $1.1 million. TNC's New York director called it the first land return by TNC in New York.

In Maine, TNC's Maine chapter is named as one of the partners in the Tributary Land Returns with the five Wabanaki tribes. A gift to TNC is a gift to TNC, not to any tribe.

Good to know. A non-Indigenous conservation group whose role in tribal land returns ranges from lead funder to donor of a parcel. A gift to TNC is not a gift to a tribe.

Summarized with AI assistance from 5 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error