What We Do
Our Programs
Our vision continues to grow. We are actively developing culturally grounded programs in youth mentorship, land-based healing, restorative practices, cultural education, leadership development, community wellness, and ceremonial gatherings. As partnerships and resources expand, so will the opportunities available to our community.
The Indigenous Cultural Foundation serves urban Indigenous communities across Los Angeles County, including Native American, Mexican Indigenous, Central American Indigenous, and other diasporic Indigenous families in East Los Angeles and surrounding neighborhoods. Our programs respond directly to gaps in culturally grounded prevention infrastructure.
Stories, Symbols & Identity
For Indigenous peoples, art has always been more than creative expression, it is a way of remembering, teaching, documenting history, and carrying culture across generations. Long before written language, our ancestors shared knowledge through murals, carvings, weaving, pottery, dance, music, regalia, and sacred symbols. These artistic traditions continue to tell the stories of who we are, where we come from, and the responsibilities we carry. The Indigenous Cultural Foundation believes that reconnecting with cultural identity is a powerful pathway to healing. Through community murals, public art, cultural workshops, storytelling, traditional arts, and intergenerational creative projects, we create opportunities for children, youth, adults, and Elders to learn together while honoring the diverse Indigenous cultures that continue to shape Los Angeles. Our workshops invite participants to explore Indigenous symbols, history, language, and artistic traditions while expressing their own experiences and identities. Whether painting a community mural, creating cultural artwork, or contributing to a collaborative project, participants become active storytellers who help preserve culture and strengthen community pride. These projects do more than beautify neighborhoods, hey create spaces where families reconnect, conversations begin, and communities see themselves reflected with dignity and strength. Every mural, every brushstroke, and every shared story becomes a reminder that our cultures are living, our histories matter, and our identities continue to thrive. By restoring visibility to Indigenous stories throughout Los Angeles, we help ensure that future generations grow up knowing they belong, their voices matter, and their cultures have always been and will continue to be a vital part of this city's past, present, and future.
- 📖 Our Stories. Our Identity. Our Future.
- 🪶 Rediscovering Who We Are
- 🌱 Roots, Identity, and Belonging
- 🌟Growing Future Leaders / Creating Pathways for Youth / Building Strong Futures
Learning for Healing & Leadership
Building stronger communities begins with sharing knowledge. The Indigenous Cultural Foundation is committed to providing culturally grounded education that strengthens individuals, families, organizations, and communities through learning, reflection, and practical skills. Our workshops, trainings, certifications, and conferences are designed to bridge Indigenous knowledge with evidence-informed practices, creating spaces where participants can deepen their understanding while strengthening their capacity to serve others. Past trainings have included 40-hour Domestic Violence Advocate Certification, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR) awareness, Circle Keeping and Restorative Practices, trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches, and healing-centered conferences that support frontline workers in preventing burnout and reconnecting with their purpose. As our foundation grows, we will continue expanding educational opportunities that honor Indigenous knowledge, elevate community voices, and foster leadership rooted in compassion, accountability, and cultural humility. We believe education is not only about gaining knowledge, but also about strengthening relationships, restoring balance, and equipping our communities with the tools to create lasting change.
- 📚 Community Education & Professional Training
- 🤝 Restorative Practices & Community Healing
- 🌎 Cultural Identity & Intergenerational Learning
- ❤️ Culturally Responsive Facilitation
Bringing people together to create meaningful change through culture, service, and collaboration.
Strong communities are built through relationships, shared responsibility, and collective action. At the Indigenous Cultural Foundation, we believe lasting change happens when people come together with a shared commitment to care for one another, strengthen community, and honor our collective responsibilities. Our work brings together youth, families, Elders, community leaders, organizations, and volunteers to create opportunities for service, advocacy, cultural celebration, and community healing. Whether organizing cultural events, participating in neighborhood beautification projects, supporting environmental stewardship, advocating for community needs, or collaborating with local coalitions and partner organizations, we believe every act of service strengthens the fabric of our community. Our experience working alongside community coalitions, grassroots organizations, and local partners has reinforced the importance of collaboration. We recognize that no single organization creates lasting change alone. By working together, sharing knowledge, and building meaningful relationships, we strengthen our collective ability to respond to community needs while honoring the wisdom and leadership that already exists within our neighborhoods. Community engagement is more than participation, it is an expression of belonging, reciprocity, and responsibility. Together, we create spaces where every person has the opportunity to contribute, lead, and help build healthier, more connected communities for the next seven generations.
- 🤝 Community Partnerships & Collaboration
- 🤲 Collective Care & Mutual Support
- 🏘️Cultural Gatherings & Community Events
- ❤️Service, Leadership & Action
Land-Based Healing & Youth Mentorship
For Indigenous peoples, the land is more than a place, it is a relative, a teacher, and a source of healing. Our relationship with the land reminds us of our responsibilities to care for all living beings and to leave the world in better condition for the generations yet to come. We believe that caring for the land is inseparable from caring for ourselves, our families, and our communities. The Indigenous Cultural Foundation is committed to fostering stewardship through education, service, and meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities working to protect their ancestral lands and waters. We are honored to have built relationships with the Lummi Nation, where we have learned about and supported efforts to protect the sacred relationship between the orca, the salmon, and the health of the Salish Sea. These teachings remind us that the wellbeing of all living beings is interconnected and that environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility. We also stand in solidarity with our Indigenous relatives in Belize who continue to protect their ancestral lands, cultures, and natural resources. Their work reflects the courage and commitment of Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas who continue to defend the lands and waters that sustain future generations. These relationships inspire opportunities for youth and families from East Los Angeles to move beyond learning about environmental stewardship in a classroom and experience it through service, cultural exchange, and hands-on participation. Many urban Indigenous children grow up disconnected from ancestral lands because of relocation, migration, and historical displacement. We believe they deserve opportunities to reconnect with nature, build relationships with Indigenous communities, and understand that they have an important role in protecting the earth. Through land-based gatherings, cultural mentorship, camping experiences, environmental restoration projects, and intergenerational learning, youth discover a sense of belonging, responsibility, and purpose. Guided by Elders, cultural practitioners, community leaders, and families, they learn that healing extends beyond the individual, it includes our relationships with one another, with the land, and with all living beings. By creating these opportunities, we hope to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, cultural leaders, and compassionate community members who understand that caring for the earth is an act of healing, service, and love. Together, we honor our ancestors by protecting what they entrusted to us and preparing future generations to continue that responsibility.
- 🌎Protecting Our Lands and Waters
- 🌱Service, Leadership & Stewardship
- 🤝Connecting Youth to the Land
- 🪶Learning Alongside Elders and Families
Culturally Rooted Programs for Healing, Leadership, and Belonging.
Help Build a Legacy for Future Generations The Indigenous Cultural Foundation is rooted in a simple belief: the strongest communities are built by the people they serve. Together, we are creating a culturally grounded space where Indigenous children, youth, families, Elders, and community members can gather to heal, learn, celebrate, and reconnect with their ancestral identities. Your support helps us build a first-of-its-kind Indigenous cultural center in Los Angeles County at this scale, a place where ceremony, language, cultural education, restorative practices, land stewardship, mentorship, community gatherings, and intergenerational learning can flourish under one roof. This vision is about more than a building; it is about creating a lasting home for culture, healing, and future generations. Every contribution, whether through volunteering, partnerships, sharing resources, or financial support, is an investment in a community-led vision. Together, we can build something that belongs to the people, is guided by Indigenous values, and will continue serving our relatives for generations to come. **For the community. By the community. For the next seven generations. **
Support Our Vision