Conference Overview:
The 2021 Global Funders Retreat provided a participatory, interactive, and collaborative space and opportunity for IFIP members, funders, and Indigenous representatives to brainstorm and reflect on the underlying systematic and systemic challenges in decolonizing philanthropy. There was increased understanding, interest, and commitment to support the work of Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous-led organizations in the collectively. The retreat further emphasized and directed towards community Indigenous-led solutions. This comes at a time when our members have emphasized the importance of flexibility, collaboration, intersectionality, and intercultural philanthropy, where we embrace reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities.
IFIP’s 2023 Global Conference builds on discussions and conversations from our 2021 Funders Retreat with an aim to facilitate this transformation through a curated space for funders and Indigenous partners to co-create next action steps including expanding the sphere of Indigenous Philanthropy and direct access to funding. The conference aims to achieve this by building on IFIP’s yearly programming, which addresses funding strategies and continued peer learning. This will include reflecting on donor practices and strategies that need to change in order to better align with Indigenous values and the 4Rs (Respect, Reciprocity, Responsibility and Relationship) of Indigenous philanthropy.  In promoting the 4Rs of Indigenous Philanthropy, IFIP works towards decolonizing philanthropy and prioritizes Indigenous representation in spaces of decision making and influence as well as Indigenous self-determination, inter-generational & inter-sectional leadership at all levels.

Track One:  Shifting power and Resources to Indigenous Peoples
The access to funding resources to Indigenous Peoples and their organizations is limited. The limited availability of resources also endures several rigid funding criteria. In addition to that, funding opportunities are often developed without understanding the local context, hence disconnected from a holistic and intersectional communities’ priorities.
This track provides an opportunity to explore as a global community how funders are adapting funding strategies and approaches and overcoming barriers to shift power and resources to Indigenous communities.  Specific case studies that share examples of how to influence and change these funding strategies and approaches are encouraged. These case studies can look at changes that happened in a funding institution but explore ways to use these learnings to influence the broader funding sector. This can include sessions addressing how funders can move from funding silos to prioritizing intersectional and community-led solutions, and how funders are working in partnership to address underlying issues, challenges, and supporting opportunities to collaborate. Sessions can focus on exploring the role of Indigenous Led Funds in philanthropy and established and emerging Indigenous Led Funds are shifting power in the philanthropic sector.

Track Two: Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ Rights to Self Determination: sharing and learning from the ground
IFIP defines self-determined development as the ability of Indigenous communities to preserve, evolve and transform social, political, economic, and cultural systems in line with their priorities.
This track will address how to bolster self-determination and Indigenous Peoples’ rights by both looking at mediums and approaches. It will also provide an opportunity to share outcomes and lessons learned of these efforts. The track will include sessions exploring important issues and challenges that are central to the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples such as land and territory rights and protection, Indigenous women’s rights, LGTBQ rights, and political and economic leadership. We recommend sessions exploring the opportunities for collaboration and lessons learned around funding strategies in support of self-determination through avenues like impact investing, leadership development, policy and advocacy efforts and others. These sessions will provide an opportunity to present case studies showcasing the ground realities faced by the Indigenous communities.

Track Three: Roles of Inter-generational Indigenous Leadership to promote, protect and revitalize Indigenous knowledge
Indigenous Knowledge and practices can provide an important framework for solutions to both local issues as well as many of the earth’s systemic crisis. But Indigenous Knowledge has been lost through the many historical and ongoing instruments of colonization, including the loss of traditional lands. It is very crucial for the continuation of intergenerational sharing and transfer of knowledge between Youth and Elders within Indigenous communities. Hence, there is need attention and support to Indigenous Intergenerational leadership. This track will include sessions exploring the importance of the inter-generational knowledge transfer within Indigenous communities and the role this plays in the continuation of Indigenous languages and cultural identity, and in the protection, promotion and revitalization of Indigenous knowledge and practices.

Conference Planning Committee:

1. Katrin Wilde, Channel Foundation

2. Kim Langbecker, Seeds of Wisdom

3. Paloma Abregu, Seeds of Wisdom

4. Loretta Taylor, True Costs Initiative

5. Millisa Barena, Claudia Y. Roberto Hernandez Fundacion

6. Calora Diaz, Haciendas Foundation of the Mayan World, AC

7. Paulina Gonzalez, Haciendas Foundation of the Mayan World, AC

8. Susana Cavazos, La Vaca Independiente

9. Alejandra Garduño Martinez

10. Casey Box, The Christensen Fund