Dear IFIP Friends,

We hope you have had a great start to 2017.  The IFIP team has been busy finalizing our new Strategic Framework and preparing for IFIP’s very first Pacific Regional Hui in New Zealand.

A little over a year ago, we embarked on a participatory process to reflect on our past accomplishments and identify new direction. With your engagement our strategy sets the stage for IFIP’s new era that responds to our stakeholders to include, both, funders and Indigenous Peoples. It is a moment to reaffirm our commitment to IFIP’s mission of advancing Indigenous-led solutions and fostering partnerships with mindful funders around the world.

As the only affinity group that focuses on Indigenous philanthropy, we know our work will require renewed energy and focus to mobilize resources to support our strategic goal and objectives.  As a player within the larger eco-system of philanthropy and civil society, IFIP now seeks to expand its sphere of influence by growing and engaging our members to support and advocate with and for Indigenous Peoples.

Today with mounting global uncertainty and political turmoil, it is challenging to stay on course with our individual and collective goals.  However, it is imperative that we continue to increase funding for Indigenous and local communities to enable them to maintain and advance the gains achieved.  At a recent UN Expert Group Meeting on the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), we were reminded of the present challenges that hinder its implementation.  Participants from the meeting also reiterated the importance of the role of donors to facilitate funding that responds to Indigenous Peoples’ needs in a manner that is flexible and respectful.  As we embark on advancing our new objectives, we invite you to continue to walk with us and bring your energy, ideas and advice.

We kick off our first newsletter of the year by focusing on the Pacific, where we will host our next IFIP regional meeting.  The Pacific is an important region with vast linguistic, traditional and biocultural diversity and richness.  It is important to share and highlight some of the powerful work that is happening in the region, as well as call your attention to opportunities to engage and collaborate with others to strengthen local and regional efforts.  Here are two of many reasons to join us in New Zealand:

• IFIP’s Pacific Regional Hui in New Zealand will be held at the first Māori University, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, where you will have a unique opportunity to learn about local context and build collaborations

• Right after the Hui, you can also join the Philanthropy Summit that is hosted by Philanthropy New Zealand, an opportunity to learn first-hand about important local and regional issues, solutions envisioned and forge new alliances with philanthropists in New Zealand.

We hope you enjoy this special publication of stories and perspectives from the Pacific featuring Indigenous human rights defenders and social movements in the region that are addressing critical issues of our time, such as climate change, security, youth leadership and gender justice for Aboriginal women. We welcome your feedback and thoughts for future e-newsletters.

Hope to see you all in New Zealand!

Lourdes Inga

Interim Executive Director

4 REASONS TO JOIN PACIFIC HUI IN NEW ZEALAND: A MĀORI INVITATION

Marama Takao, Māori Development Advisor at J. R. McKenzie Trust, shares why IFIP members should attend its first convening in New Zealand in May. The J. R. McKenzie Trust is... ...

Read More