International Funders for Indigenous Peoples Global Conference 2025
J R McKenzie Trust Chair, Dr Chelsea Grootveld (Ngāitai, Ngāti Porou, Whānau-ā-Apanui, Whakatōhea and Te Arawa) supported by her husband, Timoti Brown, attended the biannual International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) Global Conference 2025 in Kenya in late-February where she was a keynote speaker. This was the first time the IFIP Global Conference was held in the African continent. The goal was to support Indigenous Peoples throughout Africa to have a platform to voice their perspectives on the critical issues impacting their communities.
The focus of this year’s Global Conference was on “fostering collaboration and partnership-building among IFIP members, larger philanthropic partners, Indigenous-led funds, and Indigenous Peoples”. As Aotearoa New Zealand’s only funder IFIP member, the Trust is always grateful for the opportunity to attend the Global Conference and appreciates the chance to connect, listen, learn, unite, and share with humility what we are seeing and learning in the Aotearoa New Zealand context.
Indigenous peoples across the globe are directly impacted by the climate crisis, geo-political tensions, rise of far-right and neo-liberal ideologies, and global economic austerity measures. Coming together to celebrate indigenous power, wisdom, and brilliance, and collaborate and build alliances and partnerships, is an important part of the antidote. Returning to our respective communities and working in service to advocate, agitate, activate, action, and influence is the other part.
Chelsea is an IFIP Board member and this year, she was invited to give a presentation at the Global Conference. Her presentation was titled “Decolonising philanthropic practice starts with us: A celebration of indigenous and non-indigenous brilliance, intelligence, wisdom, courage, partnership and coalition” and was delivered with Timoti. This provided a great opportunity to discuss what the Trust is learning as a non-indigenous funder working in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Some reflections and insights included in the presentation were:
Working in relationship, partnership, allyship and coalition is critical.
Decolonisation is challenging and confronting…stay the course.
Investing in indigenous research and wānanga is important.
So, what does this mean in practice? In terms of governance, the Trust recognises it needs to be bold, re-educate, reflect its values, be courageous, and review its recruitment and succession plans. In terms of displaying leadership, the Trust understands it needs to model values and build strong relationships. And lastly, in terms of operations, the Trust acknowledges the need to ask, listen, review, redesign, support, practice, and reflect. The Trust is on a continuous learning journey and Chelsea presenting at the IFIP Global Conference provided an opportunity to pause and examine what the team has learned so far and where there is still work to be done.
The Trust encourages other Aotearoa New Zealand funders to visit the IFIP website to learn more about “creating inclusive and equitable Philanthropy for Indigenous Peoples” and whether becoming a member is right for your organisation. The Trust sees the value in supporting and being an active part of global conversations and the power of the indigenous collective to ignite change.
‘Mō ngā tamariki mokopuna te take’.
We do this to create a thriving future for our descendants.