Wise Ancestors
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Our goal is to significantly slow the rate of biodiversity loss while uplifting IPLC leadership. Wise Ancestors is a nonprofit on a mission to protect biodiversity by enabling unprecedented collaboration between genomic scientists and Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities. We aim to address the extinction crisis with biotechnology, Indigenous Science, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and unp
Conservation isn’t just about protecting species — it’s about respecting the sovereignty and voices of Indigenous communities.
It’s about listening — really listening — to the communities who live in relation to the ecosystems and species we’re trying to protect.
Given that 73% of global monitored wildlife populations have plunged since 1970, taking new action towards protecting species and restoring ecosystems could not be more urgent.
The health and wellbeing of humanity is quite literally at stake if we do not meet this moment.
Our team starts every project with a conversation, ensuring Indigenous & local communities lead the way.
We co-develop Conservation Challenges, where data sovereignty and cultural values are non-negotiable. Because the most impactful conservation is rooted in community leadership.
That shift — from imposing agendas to co-creating species conservation projects that fund new genomic data and locally led conservation — is what makes Wise Ancestors Conservation Challenges impactful. Applying genomic science and Indigenous knowledge systems with community leadership gives species the best possible chance at thriving.
The good news: the Wise Ancestors Platform lets everyone participate by applying to be a collaborator or making a donation.
What are you waiting for? Join us and be a wise ancestor today.
Head to link in bio 🧬🌎🌍🌏
16/05/2026
Today is to raise awareness for all the species who still have a fighting chance and deserve our attention.
Pictured above are 2 critically endangered species (and one that is likely endangered). All of them are species we’re working on protecting via Conservation Challenges 1-7 hosted on our platform. Their names are:
🐤 Undescribed antpitta in the genus Grallaria (Grallariidae) — likely critically endangered
🌳 Bermuda Cedar (Juniperus bermudiana) — critically endangered
🐦 Antioquia Brushfinch (Atlapetes blancae), known in Spanish as the “Montañerito Paisa” — critically endangered
Each Conservation Challenges for these species is generating new genomic data and supporting community-led conservation, giving each species the best possible chance at survival.
Join us before it’s too late. Our actions today will decide if we’ll be remembered as wise ancestors in the future.
Link in bio to take action!
Photos 1 & 3 (top and bottom) taken by
We are loosing species at a rate 1,000 to 10,000 times faster than the natural rate. These species are essential for life on Earth as we know it.
That’s why our approach to conservation applies braids Indigenous and genomic knowledge systems with community leadership in order to uncover new insights and create long-lasting locally-led biodiversity conservation.
Our founders’ expertise and diverse backgrounds has helped our team publish several Conservation Challenges across the world, and we’re just getting started.
This is a taste of the world of . Stay tuned for part 2 of 6!
14/05/2026
Last week Katie Jones, our community engagement director, attended the 43rd annual conference in New York City. Here’s a summary of her experience:
Last week, I attended the 43rd National Conference of the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society, “From Ancestral Knowledge to Emerging Technology: Sustaining Native Fish & Wildlife.”
The meeting was sponsored by the NAFWS Northeast Region and hosted by the .
This was my first in person meeting with the society and I found it to be a very welcoming and collaborative community.
Participants openly shared lessons, ideas, and challenges experienced across Tribal natural resource departments and tribally led research and conservation efforts.
I presented a poster on Wise Ancestors Conservation Challenge co-development process (slide 3), “Bridging Indigenous Knowledge and Genomic Science for Species Conservation” and had several engaging conversations with practitioners working on Tribal lands and applying genomic tools for practical research within Indigenous Data Governance frameworks.
I’m excited to keep learning from and connecting with the network.
06/05/2026
Thank you for inviting us to be a part of “Sequence to Survival: Using Genomics to Save Biodiversity” symposium last Friday! The event featured a keynote from Beth Shapiro (member of our Board and Chief Science Officer at ), and a panel including Katie Jones (Wise Ancestors’ Community Engagement Director) and Rachel Meyer (Wise Ancestors’ Scientific Advisor).
We loved the opportunity to share our work in Bermuda, Colombia, and Democratic Republic of Congo with the community, and why community engagement is at the heart of our approach to high impact conservation.
Learn more and support protecting species through community-led conservation at our link in bio. 🧬🌎🌍🌏
Group image features (from left to right): Rachel Meyer, Katie Jones, Beth Shapiro, Dr. David Haussler (Director of Genomics Institute and President of our Board), and Ann Pace, PhD (Wise Ancestors’ Co-Founder and Executive Director).
Image with poster features (from left to right) Katie Jones and Katrina Slater (Wise Ancestors’ Operations Director & Secretary).
05/05/2026
With heavy hearts, we want to bring awareness to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit Peoples.
According to US National Crime Center, in 2016 alone there were 5,712 reported cases of MMIWR in the with only 116 being included in the Department of Justice databases.
We encourage you to learn more about the crisis. is an excellent resource for more information.
Let’s remember and honor all the sacred lives taken from Indigenous communities today and every day.
01/05/2026
You’re invited! Join our team May 1st in Santa Cruz for an afternoon symposium all about how sequencing DNA of plants, animals, and fungi can help protect life on Earth!
The event is hosted by and will begin with a keynote address from world-renowned expert in ancient DNA and Member of our Board Dr. Beth Shapiro () about her work as Chief Science Office of .
Then there will be a panel featuring:
🧬 Katie Jones, Wise Ancestor’s Community Engagement Director
🧬 Rachel Meyer, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at , CSO of , and Scientific Advisor to Wise Ancestors
🧬 Joanna Kelley - Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at
🧬 Meaghan Clark - Postdoctoral Scholar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCSC
This is an excellent opportunity to hear from experts in the field, expand your understanding of conservation genomics and how it intersects with Indigenous Rights, and meet several members of our team!
RSVP is required! Click our link in bio to register!
14/04/2026
We’re honored to have our Community Engagement
Director Katie Jones present at this year’s United States Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network Summit about our approach to honor Indigenous rights and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in biodiversity conservation.
🧬 Learn more about her presentation at our link in bio!
03/04/2026
Last week a few of our met core team members had the privilege of attending the 37th annual conference in Berkeley, California. We are still processing all the incredible keynote and panels featuring scholars, storytellers, lawyers, and advocates such as thought leader, author, & Oscar-nominated filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat (), Indigenous rights advocate and attorney Samantha Skenandore (), Tribal spokesperson for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan & Director of Corrina Gould, and Raynell Morris () of Children of the Setting Sun () to name a few.
We’re grateful to our generous donors and grant providers for making trips like this possible. It’s important for Wise Ancestors to be in community with others who not only understand how vital honoring Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Indigenous Rights are for confronting the species extinction crisis, but are actually working towards implementation of those practices and legal rights in order to protect and regenerate all life on Earth.
Stay tuned for more highlights from !
Wise Ancestors team photographed from left to right: Ann Pace, PhD (Executive Director & Co-Founder), Elizabeth Baum (Media Relations Director), and Katie Jones (Community Engagement Director).
Land Back sticker by artist Kelly Sinclair .
28/03/2026
Spotted 🙌 created by
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Through collaborations across diverse knowledge systems, we are addressing the global biodiversity crisis one species at time, one community at a time.
Support our species-specific Conservation Challenges that are co-created with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to generate genomic information and fund a locally led conservation initiative.
🧬 Tap our link in bio to learn more & take action on the Platform 🌎
Together we can create a world where Western and Indigenous science are combined to protect Earth’s genetic diversity for future generations.
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