Pyramid Mountain becomes the first mountain to own itself in the United States.

On June 7, 2025, a Colorado mountain near the Town of Crestone became the first in the United States to own itself. 

Pyramid Mountain stands at the base of the 14,000 foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, with a view to the south of the Great Sand Dunes and Sisnaajiní (Mount Blanca). The Mountain has the unique distinction now of being the first mountain to hold its own deed in the U.S., following a transfer of title from a private foundation to the Mountain itself. 

The transfer was part of the “Land That Owns Itself” program of Sacred Contract, a coalition of several different organizations which has worked over the past two years to devise a way for ecosystems to own their own land titles. The Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER) – a founding member of Sacred Contract – created the Land That Owns Itself program several years ago.  

In 2024, land in Washington State became the first to hold its own title. The process entails the creation of a legal “alter ego” for the land, comprising the water, soil, air, plants, and animals of the land, and the transfer of title to that legal entity. Human representatives then serve as guardians for the ecosystems for purposes of making decisions about caring for the land. The guardians are legally bound to make decisions in the “best interests” of the land, similar to guardians for minor children and others. 

Thomas Linzey, senior attorney for the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER) - a founding member organization of Sacred Contract – declared, “The “Land That Owns Itself” is a revolutionary expression within the Western legal system of ecosystems being able to hold legal title to the land on which they exist. It is a rejection of a legal system in which ecosystems are treated as mere property, to be exploited by property owners as they see fit.” 

Mari Margil, Executive Director of CDER, explained, “The rights of nature movement represents a fundamental shift in the relationship between humankind and nature, from a relationship built on exploitation to one of protection.  The “Land That Owns Itself” program is the next big leap for the rights of nature, to fully liberate ecosystems and land from a subordinate relationship with humanity.”

Jennifer Menke of Regenerative Earth – a founding organizational member of Sacred Contract – stated, “In a time when the Earth is facing increasing environmental destruction, species extinction, and climate change, this legal pathway fundamentally changes the way humans relate to the rest of nature. Land being sovereign is not a new concept as it is rooted in Indigenous belief systems; however, most present day legal systems globally have never recognized Land as being sovereign. Rather they typically legally reinforce that privately held land is a commodity that can be bought, sold, used, or extracted from. ‘Land That Owns Itself’ is stewarding a future where all of nature can benefit through the acknowledgement that all species and ecosystems have a right to be healthy, be prosperous, regenerate, and thrive.” 

Sacred Contract, a partnership between the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, Regenerative Earth, and the Center for Ethical Land Transition, was established in 2022 to design, implement, and scale the legal and guardianship structure of the “Land That Owns Itself” program to protect the rights and sovereignty of these lands and enable humans to speak on behalf of them. 

Along with the transfer of title to Pyramid Mountain, an Indigenous-majority guardianship council was formally seated, to act as representatives of the Mountain’s ecosystems. 

Guided by historical research and understanding the “Story of the Land,” along with advising, relationship and trust building with local and Indigenous peoples throughout the San Luis Valley, a council of five members each representing a different ecosystem of the Mountain was created. Three of the five guardians are Indigenous women whose ancestors are from the San Luis Valley and two are young local community members who were raised at the base of Pyramid Mountain. These five guardians will work together to listen to Pyramid Mountain, respond to its needs, and ensure the future training and succession of guardians. Local community members that live in close proximity to Pyramid Mountain have also been invited to be non-legally binding guardians as they too regard Pyramid Mountain as sacred and part of their community.

Led by Sacred Contract’s team - Jennifer Menke of Regenerative Earth; Cassandra Ferrera and Abi Huff at the Center for Ethical Land Transition; and Thomas Linzey at the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights - the organization is working with several other title holders in the San Luis Valley to begin to create a “Valley That Owns Itself” project.

Abi Huff of the Center for Ethical Land Transition reflects that “this is not only a vital moment for the Land itself to recover and regenerate, but also a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate the power of intercultural collaboration - rooted in Indigenous leadership -  in support of ecological resilience and collective stewardship, anchored by listening to the land itself.”