Mission: Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) began with a circle of elders and organizers who knew that protecting the land was not just political work, it was sacred work. Since 1990, we have grown into a movement that stretches across Turtle Island, rooted in the teachings of our ancestors and the leadership of Indigenous communities on the frontlines of climate change. Our mission is simple and powerful: to defend the sacred, uplift Indigenous sovereignty, and build a future where our peoples and the planet can thrive together.
For us, climate justice lives in stories. Stories of families returning to their homelands, youth learning the songs of the seeds, aunties organizing to protect the waters, and communities standing strong against extractive industries. IEN’s work is woven from these stories, each one carrying the memory of those who came before us and the hope of those yet to come.
“Rather than seeing food sovereignty as a destination, we see it as a pathway made up of everyday acts of resistance and reparation accessible to everyone.” Simone Senogles IEN Operations Director/Indigenous Feminisms Organizer
Years ago, Simone started what would become the IEN Teaching Garden. She planted those first seeds with intention; traditional foods, medicines, and heirloom varieties passed down through generations. She invited youth to learn alongside her. She welcomed elders to share teachings. And she made space for laughter, ceremony, nourishment, and belonging.
The garden grew into a living classroom, a place where people didn’t just learn how to grow food, they learned how to care for the land and for one another. Simone nurtured that space with the same love and strength she brought to all her work at IEN.
When Simone made her transition from Mother Earth on September 20, 2025, the garden became one of the clearest reflections of her spirit. It is where her vision continues to grow, literally from the ground up.
With the support of Climate Ride, we will honor Simone’s legacy by nurturing and expanding the Teaching Garden she began. These funds will help us grow more traditional foods and medicines, host workshops for youth and families, and ensure that the cultural knowledge she protects, continues to flourish. We are dedicating the garden to her, to her leadership, her joy, her fierce love for her people, and her commitment to food sovereignty.
Help connect and amplify their work!
Learn more > https://www.ienearth.org/
Instagram > @ien_earth
