Takeaways: IIPWG August 2025
Items excerpted from the August 2025 Investors & Indigenous Peoples Working Group (IIPWG) Newsletter. IIPWG strategy calls take place the third Thursday of the month. Learn more.
Emergency Injunction to Halt Oak Flat Land Transfer
The San Carlos Apache Tribe, Apache Stronghold, environmentalists, and others welcome a federal court’s emergency injunction to halt the land transfer of Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, otherwise known as Oak Flat, to Resolution Copper– a subsidiary of Rio Tinto [NYSE: RIO] and BHP [NYSE: BHP]
Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr. of Apache Stronghold, a community organization dedicated to protecting the sacred site, highlighted how courts have stopped the project three times now “because it is unjust.” The Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Terry Rambler, expressed gratitude for the injunction and how the Tribe will be able to “argue the merits of our pending lawsuit in court.” According to Rambler, “The Apache people will never stop fighting for Chí’chil Biłdagoteel.”
Dr. Nosie presented to IIPWG in October 2024. IIPWG participants may review presentation takeaways.
Report: Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Participation in 2025 AGM Proposals
In 2025, Indigenous Peoples and investors partnered to submit seven major shareholder proposals to seven companies in the U.S. and Canada that involve the industries of banking, energy, and food and beverage. The Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Participation in 2025 AGM Proposals report highlights these resolutions and Indigenous Peoples’ engagement at the annual general meetings (AGM) of large companies. Insights that emerged include:
Proposals center on evaluating and improving corporate policies and practices on free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), environmental justice, and Indigenous reconciliation;
Several achievements include JP Morgan Chase’s [NYSE: JPM] disclosure of FPIC consideration in general corporate finance and EQB’s [TSE: EQB] commitment to adopt a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and become certified by an Indigenous-led standard; and
The seven submitted proposals in 2025 represent a decrease from nine proposals in 2024 and twelve proposals in 2023, which is likely related to successful withdrawal agreements and new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules.
Participant Engagement Updates
On the August IIPWG strategy call, participants shared engagement updates about companies in the following industries: lithium mining, banking, automakers, renewable energy, and hospitality. A recording of the call is available upon request; please contact AnnaMae Dziallo at annamae@tallgrassinstitute.org.