The California Indian Environmental Alliance (CIEA) is a left-of-center nonprofit organization based in California that advocates for Native American issues in environmental policies. It claims that Native Americans are entitled to have environmental regulations created that protect their traditional food sources.¹

Background

The California Indian Environmental Alliance is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that was founded in 2006 to advocate for Native Americans regarding mercury contamination issues in California. It reports that it corresponds with Native American tribes in California to advocate for fish conservation and health campaigns on behalf of Native Americans. ¹

CIEA reports that its advocacy is based in the belief that Native Americans are entitled to “eat traditional foods” and establish the “environmental cleanup standards” to allow for their cultures to be preserved. It advocates for environmental issues with the belief that Native Americans have moral authority over the environmental standards set by public policy. ¹

Advocacy

In September 2017, the California Indian Environmental Alliance wrote a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Tribal Program Coordinator in response to the Trump administration’s Executive Order 13778, criticizing the administration for making the order without consulting tribal officials. The letter opposed any changes to the definition of “Waters of the United States” that would limit what bodies of water qualify as “streams” because the organization argues that regulatory changes would reduce the number of opportunities for bodies of water to be regulated to address Native American issues. It advocates for the term “Waters of the United States” to be interpreted “as broadly as possible” so that watersheds can be regulated to protect the water quality where Native Americans fish for food. ²

In April 2025, CIEA was listed as a supporter of California’s Assembly Bill 362, which would require the State Water Resources Control Board and regional water boards to consult with Native American tribal leaders regarding proposed water projects. The bill would also require state and local water boards to enact water quality regulations to “protect tribal water uses.” ³

In October 2024, CIEA, the Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition, San Francisco Baykeeper, and the Golden State Salmon Association submitted a formal statement with the State Water Resources Control Board regarding the Delta Conveyance Project hearings. The statement criticizes the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for considering the Delta Conveyance Project to be allowed what it describes as “special treatment” to have a water rights permit from 1972 modified for the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project. Instead, the statement advocates for the Delta Conveyance Project to be required to submit a new application for the water rights required for the project. ⁴

Funding

In 2023, the California Indian Environmental Alliance received a $100,000 grant, in addition to a $200,000 grant in 2022, from Mosaic to fund its California Water Back and Land Back Campaign. ⁵

California EPA Grants

In March 2024, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) announced that it had awarded CIEA $298,811.52 under its Environmental Justice Action Grants Program. The grant was for a CalEPA project titled, “Protecting California Tribal Communities through Water Quality Standards.” ^{6 7}

In 2022, CIEA was awarded $50,000 from CalEPA to create a “Tribal Beneficial Use Strategic Planning Caucus” (TBUSPC). The grant funded a CEIA program that convened members of Native American tribes in California to oversee the adoption of CalEPA’s Tribal Beneficial Use definitions by regional water quality control boards in their basin plans, water quality objectives, and implementation programs. ^{8 9}

Government Grants

In 2023, CIEA reported receiving $584,913 in total government grants on its tax returns, making up 38 percent of its total revenue. ¹⁰

Leadership

Sherri Norris has worked as the executive director of the California Indian Environmental Alliance since its founding in 2006. ¹¹

Financials

In 2023, the California Indian Environmental Alliance reported $1.5 million in total revenue, including $563,903 received through its health and education program. ¹⁰  It also reported $1.2 million in total expenses, including $703,540 it reported as payments to “outside consultants” for helping identify the needs of Native Americans, according to its tax returns. ^{12 13}

1. “Tribal Needs Assessment Summary.” San Francisco Estuary Partnership. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://www.sfestuary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SFEP_RWNA_10_TribalNeeds_ADA.pdf.
2. Norris, Sherri. Letter to Karen Gude. “California Indian Environmental Alliance Correspondence.” Environmental Protection Agency, June 20, 2017. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/documents/california_indian_environmental_alliance_2017-6-20.pdf.
3. “Environmental Panel Approves Ramos Bill Calling for Tribal Input on Water Projects.” Native News Online. April 30, 2025. https://nativenewsonline.net/environment/environmental-panel-approves-ramos-bill-calling-for-tribal-input-on-water-projects.
4. “PRESS RELEASE: Environmental groups call attention to fundamental flaws with Delta Conveyance Project hearings.” Maven’s Notebook. October 11, 2024. https://mavensnotebook.com/2024/10/11/press-release-environmental-groups-call-attention-to-fundamental-flaws-with-delta-conveyance-project-hearings/.
5. “Our Grantmaking.” Mosaic. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://mosaicmomentum.org/our-grantmaking/. 
6. “EJ Action Grants Program.” California Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://calepa.ca.gov/ejactiongrants/.  
7. “First-Round Environmental Justice Action Grants Awardees.” California Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://calepa.ca.gov/ejactiongrants/calepa-ej-grants-program-round-1-awardees/.
8. “Tribal Beneficial Uses (TBU) Basin Plan Update.” California Water Boards. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/rwqcb2/water_issues/programs/planningtmdls/amendments/TBUbpa.html.
9. “2022 Environmental Justice Small Grants Project Summaries.” California Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed Jun 29, 2025. https://calepa.ca.gov/envjustice/funding/smallgrants/2022-environmental-justice-small-grants-project-summaries/. 
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). California Indian Environmental Alliance. 2023. Part VIII.
11. “Sherri Norris.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherri-norris-8841b340/.
12. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). California Indian Environmental Alliance. 2023. Part IX, Lines 24-25.
13. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). California Indian Environmental Alliance. 2023. Schedule O.