Investors & Indigenous Peoples Working Group
The Investors & Indigenous Peoples Working Group (IIPWG) comprises a broad coalition of investors and finance leaders who work to address challenges facing Indigenous Peoples globally and to mainstream Indigenous Peoples’ rights in responsible investment. The group also seeks to support and uplift Indigenous leaders’ participation in investment and shareholder spaces.
IIPWG priorities are to:
1) Ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent and uphold the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples.
2) Address the impact of extractive industries and the global energy transition on Indigenous Peoples and the environment.
3) End the use of racist images, stereotypes, and cultural appropriation.
4) Build investor and corporate support for Indigenous-led entrepreneurship and enterprise.
The Native name of IIPWG is Yethiya wihe', meaning “We all give to them/We all invest in them” in the Oneida language.
IIPWG FPIC WORKING GROUP
This formal subgroup of IIPWG focuses on forwarding free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) in corporate policies through shareholder advocacy and direct engagement. For more information and to join the working group, please email info@tallgrassinstitute.org.
FPIC due diligence resources can be found here.
IIPWG Canada
At the request of participants in Canada and in partnership with the Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Institute (RRII) and SHARE Canada, IIPWG Canada was launched as a regional subgroup that meets bimonthly to provide an Indigenous-led strategy space specific to Canadian investors, companies, and issues. For more information about IIPWG Canada, hosted by RRII, please fill out this form and read the FAQ.
More About IIPWG
For more information about IIPWG, download the one-pager.
IIPWG brings together investors and Indigenous leaders to forward the rights of Indigenous Peoples through the capital markets. Monthly strategy calls consistently bring the voices and priorities of the Indigenous world directly to investors. From there, investors frequently inquire about specific companies or strategies to move these priorities to the private sector.
Tallgrass Institute serves as Secretariat for IIPWG. As Secretariat, Tallgrass facilitates agendas and moderates strategy calls, produces IIPWG’s monthly newsletters and 2-3 webinars each year, and supports presentations and participation by Indigenous leaders for webinars, calls, and briefings.
If you would like to participate or learn more about IIPWG, please email info@tallgrassinstitute.org or complete this form.
Top photo: Palisades Tahoe where IIPWG was formed in 2006 and pursued one of its first engagements; image via Palisades Tahoe.