Cultural Survival

Cultural Survival is an Indigenous-led NGO and USA-registered non-profit that has backed Indigenous Peoples’ rights and supported Indigenous communities’ self-determination, their lifeways, and governance over their land and seascapes, since 1972.

Cultural Survival’s work is based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Partnerships with Indigenous communities spanning over 45 years have endowed Cultural Survival with a trusted network of Indigenous partners and human rights advocates across the globe. Its strategic position and influence across movements, sectors, governmental agencies, and international bodies such as the United Nations contribute towards amplifying efforts and raising awareness of Indigenous communities.

Cultural Survival’s programmes such as the Keepers of the Earth Fund, an Indigenous-led regranting facility, provide support to emerging and grassroots groups to assist communities find solutions to challenges that impinge on their rights.

Cultural Survival has taken a bold approach towards Indigenising philanthropy by enabling grants to be more accessible to Indigenous communities. Synchronicity Earth supports the Keepers of the Earth Fund through its Biocultural Diversity Programme. Other programmes that Cultural Survival runs include; Advocacy; Community Media; Community Media Grants Project; Indigenous Rights Radio; and Bazaars (festivals of Indigenous arts and culture). It provides important pathways to amplify Indigenous Peoples’ voices and improve understanding of emerging issues, as well as providing a platform for collective learning.