The Sierra Club recognizes that the entirety of the North American continent is traditional homelands to many indigenous Tribal Nations, including all current Public Lands. European settlers used the Doctrine of Discovery to settle the United States through the forced removal, relocation and eradication of Indigenous communities. For many, this is a painful and enduring memory.
The Sierra Club’s efforts to protect natural habitats from commercial exploitation and privatization has established and protected many public lands. However, the Sierra Club recognizes that it often did this without adequately considering the Indigenous peoples’ treaties and human rights. The Sierra Club believes that protecting natural ecosystems and wildlife is in harmony with Indigenous rights, increasing access to nature for all, and increasing nature-based climate solutions and resilience to the climate crisis for the most vulnerable communities.
The Sierra Club acknowledges that for the first half of its existence it ignored and excluded Indigenous inhabitants, and people of color from its outdoor and advocacy activities. In 1976, it launched the Inner City Outings program, now Inspiring Connections Outdoors, to improve equitable access to nature for children and young adults from underserved communities.