Setting Sun Institute
Where knowledge and ancestral wisdom converge.
At Setting Sun Institute, we're not just sitting behind desks — we’re out in the world, speaking at conferences, brainstorming with other organizations, and engaging across the full spectrum of education. We’re meeting people where they are, knowing that true progress happens when we come together, listen, and grow in understanding.
Our approach is grounded in Indigenous wisdom, but it’s built for the now. By forging strong partnerships and pushing for Indigenous voices to lead the way, we’re building a movement that spans communities, institutions, and industries. This isn’t just about changing policy; it’s about changing the way we all see each other and the world we share.
The challenges we face — climate change, social injustice, environmental destruction — demand that we all step up. Together. Because the truth is, we need each other to survive. And when we work as one, rooted in respect, knowledge, and collaboration, the impossible becomes possible.
Salmon, Climate, & Justice
The Setting Sun Institute is about more than just saving salmon — it’s about addressing the root causes of their decline and tackling the most pressing issues of our time: climate change and social injustice. Right now, there’s a gap: no research center exists that’s specifically designed to support tribal leaders as they navigate the complex web of policies, economics, and industries that make this work so much harder than it needs to be.
That’s where we come in. The Setting Sun Institute can be the bridge, the solution, the catalyst for change. A think tank grounded in Salish wisdom, capable of transforming the conversation. Imagine a space where expertise on water policy, the energy industry, and sustainable practices isn’t just theoretical but made actionable for Indigenous-led movements — movements that are already taking down river-wrecking dams and challenging industrial-scale fossil fuel development.
It’s a place where we can dig into tough questions: How do we balance energy needs with conservation, economic growth with Tribal sovereignty? How do we navigate the tradeoffs that too often leave our people on the losing side? And perhaps most critically, it’s a place that can show the world — with facts, data, and lived experience — why restoring the natural world is not just a moral imperative, but a survival strategy in this time of climate disruption.
But the Institute is about more than just policy analysis. It’s about growing the next generation of visionary Indigenous leaders who won’t just inherit the challenges of our time, but rise up with answers to dismantle injustice and turn the tide on climate change.
Ultimately, what we’re doing here is deep work. Restoring salmon means restoring the salmon people. And in doing that, we’re not just saving a species — we’re rewriting the story of this place. One that honors all the generations to come, and places them at the heart of everything we do.
Why Now Matters
Indigenous-led movements are winning — stopping dirty energy projects, challenging river-destroying dams, and protecting the lands and waters we all depend on. And this is just the beginning. Momentum is building. Across the country, more and more people are demanding racial justice, environmental sanity, and a future that actually works for everyone.
And this time, the people in power started to listen. For the first time in history, a Native American served in the President’s cabinet — overseeing the stewardship of U.S. lands and waters. It was a breakthrough moment that showed what’s possible when Indigenous leadership is not just acknowledged but empowered. The momentum from that era continues, and the demand for bold climate action is only growing. The window didn’t close — it widened. And we’re stepping through it.
Setting Sun Institute is here to meet that moment — with a strategy built to amplify Indigenous leadership in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We’re not just reacting to change. We’re shaping it. Because when Indigenous truth is told clearly, powerfully, and without apology — it moves people. And movement makes progress possible.
What we aim to achieve
The work of Setting Sun Institute is already underway, but much more is possible. Funding will support the team’s efforts to carefully design a suite of initiatives and programs and launch them in the coming years.. Our team is preparing to:
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the foundational elements of the Institute with a core strategy; outlining programmatic structures and staff roles; and drawing a conceptual map of allies and audiences for outreach.
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the Institute’s programmatic functions by specific research topics; creating an outreach plan to reach key audiences and allies; and writing a long-term fundraising plan.
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the Institute by identifying staff or contractors to fill key roles; initiating research projects and other programs like Tribal Sovereignty; and conducting outreach to media, political officials, and allies.
This work didn’t start today — it’s been growing, evolving, and gaining strength over time. With each project, each partnership, each story shared, we’ve built a foundation that now carries us into the launch of the Setting Sun Institute.
We’re guided by traditional Salish values: honoring ancestors, holding ceremony, sharing knowledge, and staying grounded in community. These are not just cultural practices — they are strategies for survival, healing, and transformation.
Whenever we find a platform — whether it's the New York Times, the Seattle Times, CNN, or a community gathering — we bring those values with us.
At the same time, we’re stepping into rooms where decisions are made — in government, health care, energy, and media. We’re challenging the legacy of extraction and unchecked development that threatens Native salmon and accelerates climate chaos.
And we’re offering something better. A path rooted in Indigenous knowledge, shaped by reciprocity and respect — a future built to sustain us all.
The Institute will move, sound, and shine like the Salish people.
Our purpose is to lay a foundation for long-term, transformative change and collaboration that expands the horizon of what is possible in the salmon region. To accomplish this, Setting Sun Institute will do more than just produce high-impact research. It will find new ways to tell stories and apply the impactful stories already created through the SSI library database. By cataloging and sharing the Salmon People Project, a collection of stories by Children of the Setting Sun Productions, the institute will strategically center Indigenous voices across policy, activism, education, and environmental sectors.
Over time, the Institute will grow to support emerging new coalitions and collectives across Indian country. We see ourselves as a vital resource hub embedded in a diverse and resilient network of collaborators that will include leaders and activists, fishers and artists, storytellers and academics. Working with partners who recognize our shared interest in Indigenous rights, we can help transform the salmon region into a place that models sustainable climate protection and genuine social justice.