Michael Madrigal is the president of the Native American Land Conservancy. He is a citizen of the Cahuilla Band of Indians, a tribal nation in Southern California. Madrigal has dedicated much of his life to supporting efforts that protect and strengthen the traditional cultural and spiritual ties of tribal communities to their homelands. He is honored to have learned from many tribal elders and acknowledges these elders who have dedicated their lives to keeping traditional wisdom alive in Indigenous communities. Madrigal is a PhD candidate in the Native American and ethnic studies program at the University of California, Riverside.