This research project explores the role of Indigenous knowledge systems, specifically Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), in shaping conservation practices in Samoa. In collaboration with Conservation International, the study investigates how postcolonial Samoan communities preserve TEK while navigating relationships with Western aid organizations. The research will examine key questions, including how Samoan grassroots organizations maintain cultural sovereignty in their environmental advocacy, how Indigenous resistance movements redefine activism beyond Western paradigms, and how Fa‘asamoa (the Samoan way) influences environmental stewardship and climate resilience. The study will also explore how Samoan-led conservation efforts can inform the integration of Indigenous knowledge and pedagogies into U.S. environmental movements, offering new perspectives on climate governance. By focusing on community-driven, culturally grounded conservation approaches, this research aims to challenge dominant conservation models, highlighting the potential of Indigenous frameworks to foster long-term ecological resilience and environmental justice on a global scale.