The Indigenous Peoples Organisation
$40,000 | April 2021
What do the The Indigenous Peoples Organisation do?
The Indigenous Peoples Organisation (IPO) is a coalition of 285 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and individuals who advocate for Indigenous rights at the United Nations and are committed to implementing the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within Australia and overseas. IPO addresses a wide range of concerns from land and climate management, cultural heritage, remote communities, welfare entitlements, housing and services, community well-being, and self-determination as the key overarching right, which is the foundation of all other rights.
Why is this work important?
As the Australian Government engages in both domestic policy development and international diplomacy in the lead up to the November United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), there is an important opportunity to raise the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a call for the strongest possible mitigation and adaptation policies and programs, for restorative justice. Now, more than ever, the nation’s attention can be drawn to both the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and the leadership and self-direction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
IPO’s participation in, and co-convening of, key forums, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the NAIDOC webinar series and the national Better Futures Forum (target for 1,000 registrants) will pave the way for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities to be shared by trusted voices and heard by the international community through a well-prepared Indigenous delegation at COP26 this November.
By facilitating dialogue among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about climate change impacts and solutions, IPO aim to build consensus and commitment to an action plan that will be advocated for during this year’s global climate negotiations. By centring and amplifying the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and helping non-Indigenous organisations to understand and support their perspective and priorities, we aim to strengthen and guide the positions of both the Australian Government and other stakeholders participating in the November 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
How is Groundswell supporting this work?
With Groundswell’s support, IPO’s activity over the coming 12 months includes:
Working within IPO’s coalition of 285 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and individuals, and with the BFA community, our activities over the next 12 months will focus on increasing the understanding of climate change priorities for Indigenous peoples and strengthening collaboration and readiness for joint advocacy among these groups.
In conjunction with BFA partners, we will organise and convene a NAIDOC week ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Climate Change Priorities’ webinar series through 4 - 11 July, that aims to actively engage more than 300 individuals. Aligned with the NAIDOC 2021 theme, ‘Heal Country!’, we will engage and inspire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from all walks of life to carry forward the message of collectively looking after country and taking ownership of our collective futures.
Across five days, the series will convene trusted voices across a range of critical climate discussions, including self-determination; water; land management; community safety; and Indigenous and environmental rights in the international context. This will provide an initial platform to inform further climate solutions advocacy work, including at the Better Futures Forum (actively engaging up to 1,000 individuals), Pacific Islands Forum, and a delegation at COP26. We will use these forums to highlight climate impacts on Australia’s First Nations Peoples and to be an effective voice calling for strong climate action and investment in zero emissions opportunities for our communities back home.