Numu was founded by Kolton Schooley, a member of the Comanche Nation, with a mission to protect
and restore Native lands through advanced technology and traditional knowledge. After a successful
career in the restaurant industry, Kolton chose to follow his love for nature and his heritage, dedicating
his life to land stewardship and wildfire prevention.
Kolton partnered with Elijah Polsky, his longtime friend and co-founder, a retired wildland firefighter
with a degree in Environmental Studies and a strong background in GIS and aerial data analysis. Elijah’s
earlier company, Rogue Reconnaissance, helped pioneer the use of drones for wildfire mapping and
LiDAR data collection — laying the foundation for what Numu has become today: a Native-owned
nonprofit at the intersection of technology, ecology, and cultural stewardship.
Born from firsthand experience on the fireline and years of geospatial expertise, Numu bridges
Indigenous stewardship practices with cutting-edge environmental tools to serve communities,
agencies, and tribes across the country.