<p>Environmental justice struggles in restrictive institutional contexts remain contentious and sensitive. Current research confirms that the ability of NGOs to influence government policy and corporate behavior is limited due to state suppression in such contexts. There remains no clear understanding of how the work of NGOs can positively impact policy change for environmental justice. This study examines a case of activism and interaction between two types of NGOs in response to an oil pipeline project in Russia. Their efforts contributed to a regional law that regulates assessment and compensation for Indigenous peoples. Through the lens of institutional work and issue salience, the article examines collaborative and confrontational tactics of NGOs and introduces <i>salience work</i> and <i>futuring</i> as conceptual contributions to institutional work on environmental justice.</p>