Lena Ortega is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous-led food sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and climate resilience. A citizen of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, she is the founder and Executive Director of Atsapáq, a nonprofit rooted in Quechan values that promotes sustainable farming, cultural education, and wellness. Lena serves on the Kw'tsán Cultural Committee and is a lead organizer of the Protect Kw'tsán Campaign, which uplifts Tribal stewardship and conservation across the Quechan homelands. In January 2025, she helped negotiate and sign a historic co-stewardship agreement with the DOI and BLM, affirming the Tribe’s authority to care for and manage its sacred lands. She actively works across Tribal, state, and federal partnerships to strengthen land protection strategies and highlight Indigenous leadership in conservation. Lena also serves on several statewide advisory groups focused on agriculture, land access, and climate justice. She brings deep place-based knowledge and a vision for intergenerational healing through land and cultural restoration.
Presenting in the following sessions:
Nov 13, 2025
1:45-3:00 PM
Session 3
1.25 MCLE
Co-Stewardship of Federal Lands and Waters in Uncertain Times
Sam Cohen, Natalie Landreth, Lena Ortega, and Jill Grant will discuss the laws that govern co-stewardship of federal land and waters, the paths taken to secure co-stewardship agreements, and the activities they perform under these agreements, following the prior administration's significant progress and in the face of rapidly changing times.
