Our Mission
At Rebel West, we believe that people and wilderness are one. To us, a community is not just made up of people, but of the plants, animals, and the other beings that live around us. We envision a world where humans and nature thrive; not simply through coexisting, but by working together to improve the lives of every living being. Valuing both western science and local ecological knowledge, we promote a healthy and flourishing biome for the Northern Great Plains and Mountain West. We believe that agro- and socio-ecological systems should benefit all living things- humans are part of the environment and not separate from it. We work with communities to be better stewards in order to meet the growing challenges caused by climate change, biodiversity and habitat loss, as well as the growing persistence of poverty in our rural and tribal communities.
Partnering with People
The Northern Great Plains are home to both Indigenous and non-native rural communities. Conventional agriculture and tourism dominate the economies and surrounding landscapes. At Rebel West, we see the potential of partnering with land-owners, organizations, and communities, empowering them to work with wildlife and nature. We promote both biodiversity and regenerative, wildlife-friendly farming to the benefit of all.
Partnering with Wildlife
The Northern Great Plains are home to many amazing species of wildlife and “ecosystem engineers”- such as the American Beaver and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. Unfortunately, these species are often persecuted due to their disruptions to conventional agriculture. We see the potential of partnering with these species and working with them -rather than against them- to promote both biodiversity and agricultural production for the benefit of all within a community.
Partnering with Land
The Northern Great Plains are made up of large swaths land dominated by conventional, industrial-scaled agriculture and extractive industries such as mining, oil, and gas exploration. Even on "multi-use” landscapes, approaches to land and natural resource management mostly cater to these industries. At Rebel West, we recognize that how we treat the land has to change if the West is truly to remain iconic. We believe that communities can work together to steward land to benefit biodiversity, promote regenerative food production, and boost rural economies.
“Putting the wild back in the west”
— Jason Schoch, Co-founder