28 YEARS OF SERVING OUR INDIGENOUS RELATIVES

In 1997, the Indigenous Alliance Without Borders came together as a result of persistent law enforcement abuse against indigenous peoples living in the southern United States and Mexico border region. We have since worked together inter-tribally from California to Texas to address these human rights violations that threaten the indigenous right of mobility and passage over the international border line.

Origin Story_1

Alianza Indígena Sin Fronteras

Mission

As a collective of Indigenous Peoples, our mission is to affirm the rights of Indigenous peoples, their right to self-determination, their collective human and civil rights, the rights of sovereignty and the protection of sacred sites, and the free unrestricted movement across international borders.

Promoting respect of Indigenous right of mobility:

The Indigenous Alliance strives to secure safe passage of Indigenous peoples, as protected under the corpus of international human rights instruments including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Culturally-affiliated Indigenous peoples reside on either side of the border.  Indigenous peoples have equal rights to culture, spirituality, education, and family and civic engagement.

Preserving our traditional values, languages and cultures:

Our ceremonial leaders, educators, family members and relatives have the right to safe passage across borders for purposes of cultural, spiritual and ceremonial exchange. The passing on of our cultures, languages, and knowledge to our youth is impeded by our lack of mobility across borders.
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Addressing insensible and insensitive United States defense and immigration policies:

These continue to disrespect Indigenous peoples' rights. The physical barrier and surveillance infrastructure along the United States and Mexico border, as well as an increased military presence harms reservation communities and Indigenous ways of life. Sacred sites are being disturbed by militarism and the construction of the border wall.

Article 36

(1) Indigenous Peoples, in particular those divided by the international borders, have the right to maintain and develop contacts, relations and cooperation, including activities for spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social purposes, with their own members as well as other peoples across borders.

(2) States, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples, shall take effective measure to facilitate the exercise and ensure the implementation of this right.

                                     – United Nations Declaration on the Rights of                                                                Indigenous Peoples

Our Goals

  • - Educate about Indigenous peoples' rights and about conflicts, constructively advocate on public policy measures, and document human rights abuses

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- Actively outreach to and coalition-build with Indigenous/non-Indigenous organizations, communities, and social justice campaigns;

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  • - Protect sacred sites along the border and beyond;

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- Facilitate "Know Your Rights" workshops and community forums;

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  • - Promote respect for and protection of Indigenous mobility rights;

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Through educational teach-ins, actions, trainings, decolonial cultural projects, youth mentoring, and ceremony as collective/direct action, our advocacy addresses how Indigenous peoples can respond to issues themselves. 

Programming

  • - Indigenous Peoples' Day
  • - World Water Day
  •  - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives
  • - International Day of the World's Indigenous Women
IPD 2025 Volunteers

Alianza Tecuani

Mission

The mission of the Alianza Tecuani is to strengthen the vitality of ancestral tribes
through the dignified amplification of ancestral traditions, shared stories, mother
language, and enduring bond with Mother Earth.

Our Story

The Alianza Tecuani is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that was formed in 2025 by
staff and members of the Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras (AISF).
The Alianza Tecuani (AT) is the public-facing charitable organization that is
governed by its Board of Directors and houses funding for the Alianza Indigena Sin
Fronteras (AISF), Thriving Aunties (TA), and the Indigenous Languages Office (ILO).
AISF, TA, and ILO are the “fiscally-sponsored” projects that the AT has a fiduciary
responsibility to.

Our Goals

Our goals are to educate both First Peoples and the general public about the rights of Original Peoples and related matters by

  • - Organizing events
  • - Collaborating with appropriate ancestral organizations,groups and initiatives
  • - Creating resources to help First Peoples make informed decisions and take proactive steps

Programs

  • - Holistic Leadership & Development
  • - Governance & Self-Sufficiency
  •  - Fundamental Rights & Policy
  • - Ancestral Knowledge-Keeping & Organizational Initiatives

WHAT IS A TECUANI AND WHY IS THIS IN THE NAME OF AN INDIGENOUS-LED CHARITABLE ORG?

The tecuani is often translated as jaguar in Nahuatl. Tecuani is also a term used in

ceremonies in Indigenous cultures in Mexico. The Executive Director of AISF 

learned about the tecuani term from AISF’S Advisor (Opata and Tlamanalcah).

This inspired the name for the charitable organization as the tecuani is home which can mean the feeling of home, the home you live in and even the home we all live in which is Mother Earth. The tecuani in Nahuatl (and in other Indigenous cultures and languages) is revered as an ancestral predator that also brings balance in ecosystems that Indigenous People traditionally

steward.

The tecuani is invoked in this charitable organization as a need for reclamation of

the jaguar’s Indigenous symbolism. When you hear of the tecuani you feel a fierce

protection of land, the environment, the Indigenous People and the spirit. This

charitable organization’s governance and duties are to fiercely protect and continue

the dignified work in Indigenous Human Rights and the protection of Mother Earth

for the next seven generations.