BROOKS, CA – The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, through Doyuti T’uhkama, has awarded 1.5 million over three years to California Indian Legal Services (CILS) to support the expansion of its work advancing and defending tribal sovereignty across California. The investment will help launch and sustain CILS’ newly established Tribal Sovereignty Defense Fund, an initiative to strengthen tribal representation in litigation, legislation, and policy advocacy.
“For generations, tribal nations have carried the responsibility of protecting our people, our lands and our future – often without the resources to fully engage in the systems shaping decisions that impact Native communities,” said Anthony Roberts, Chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. “This investment is a step toward ensuring that Native people and future generations inherit the strength, sovereignty and self-determination that have always defined our communities.”
Founded in 1967, CILS is one of the oldest non-profit legal aid organizations in the country focused on federal Indian law, with a mission to protect and advance Indian rights, tribal self-determination and nation-building. The organization provides free and low-cost legal services to tribes, tribal organizations and Native individuals across California, while also delivering community education and training to strengthen tribal capacity statewide.
Through the Tribal Sovereignty Defense Fund, CILS will expand its ability to support tribes navigating complex state and local systems, while building specialized legal expertise across key issue areas – including land, cultural resources and repatriation – and strengthening long-term capacity across California tribal communities.
“For more than six decades, CILS has stood at the forefront of defending Native rights,” said Heather Hostler, Executive Director of CILS. “As the needs of tribal communities have evolved, we’ve reimagined how we serve in today’s dynamic tribal landscape – grounded in a shared commitment to protecting sovereignty and advancing the collective well-being of Native Peoples. The creation of the Tribal Sovereignty Defense Fund marks a transformative step forward for CILS, intentionally dedicating our legal expertise to a California-focused approach to impact litigation, legislation, and advocacy. At its core, this work depends on partnership with tribes and tribal communities across the state, grounded in a shared commitment to this work. We are deeply grateful to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for their leadership and investment in this vision.”
Modeled in spirit on the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), which grew out of CILS in the early 1970s, this initiative reflects a renewed commitment to meeting the evolving legal and political landscape in California. It also reinforces the importance of tribal-led solutions grounded in partnership, shared knowledge and a deep understanding of California’s unique tribal context, including its status as a Public Law 280 state.
“CILS serves as more than a legal organization – it functions as a critical think tank for tribal sovereignty in California,” said Chairman Roberts. “By bridging a highly specialized gap in Sacramento, they are helping ensure that tribal perspectives are represented and respected in the policies and decisions that shape our future.”
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s investment through Doyuti T’uhkama is part of its broader commitment to supporting tribal communities and advancing long-term systems that benefit future generations.