Moonjelly builds long-term, trust-based partnerships that move knowledge and resources directly between Indigenous communities, helping locally led solutions for land and sea grow across the Pacific.

Jellyfish reflecting Indigenous approaches to food systems, ocean health, and community resilience in the Pacific

Indigenous communities caring for some of the planet’s most important ecosystems remain deeply under-supported. Moonjelly works to change that by directing funding, research, and practical support toward the people closest to place.

We are not built around a single project. We grow through relationships, bringing Indigenous leaders, researchers, and funders together, then supporting partners to share what works and bring others into the network.

Our current work spans the Cook Islands, Hawaiʻi, French Polynesia, Taiwan, Colombia, and beyond, with a focus on Indigenous knowledge exchange, food systems, applied research, and community-led stewardship.

Moon jellyfish representing non-extractive Indigenous knowledge systems supporting ocean health, food security, and community well-being

Jellyfish symbolizing Indigenous-led ocean stewardship and long-term ecological restoration across Pacific communities

We begin with trust.

Listen … to learn and build trust

Follow … the visions and priorities of our partners

Connect … people who can learn directly from one another

Move … funding and practical support with less burden

Commit … beyond individual projects and grant cycles

Jellyfish used to convey Indigenous research partnerships focused on Pacific ecosystems, ancestral decision-making, and restoration

Moon jellyfish symbolizing trust-based Indigenous conservation and long-term stewardship of land, sea, and community health

Moonjelly Academy

Knowledge Into Action

Moonjelly Academy brings Indigenous leaders, knowledge holders, researchers, and communities together to learn directly from one another and apply that knowledge in place.

Through exchanges, field-based learning, applied research, and long-term collaboration, partners share ancestral and contemporary approaches to food systems, stewardship, governance, and other community-defined priorities.

The Academy supports communities to:

Share knowledge directly across communities and cultures
Apply research and technical tools in service of local priorities
Support Indigenous leadership and decision-making
Restore and care for land, sea, and food systems
Build lasting relationships across communities

Moonjelly Academy builds collaboration among Indigenous knowledge holders, academics, local communities, and the wider scientific community.

Pay-It-Forward Growth: As relationships grow, partners bring others into the network, allowing knowledge, trust, and opportunity to expand from within.

Moonjelly symbolizing restoration and rejuvenation in the ocean

Read our latest paper: "A front line look at peer-to-peer sharing of Indigenous knowledge and academic science"

Knowledge sharing of Indigenous Knowledge and Academic Science

Moonjelly Navigator Circle

Indigenous-guided

The Navigator Circle is a group of Indigenous leaders, academics, and knowledge holders who help guide Moonjelly’s priorities, relationships, and direction.

The Navigator Fund helps turn that guidance into action by moving financial and technical resources toward priorities defined by Circle members and their communities.

Read our Declaration to learn how Moonjelly is redefining trust-based funding for Indigenous ocean action

We are Moonjelly.