“The Indigenous Futures Survey provides insight into the lives and belief systems of Native people in the 21st century,” said Judith LeBlanc (Caddo), Executive Director of Native Organizers Alliance. “Our communities are politically engaged. They are mindful of the essential role Tribal Nations and communities play on the issues affecting the health and well-being of humanity and Mother Earth. Indian Country needs data sovereignty, and Native surveys of Native communities, to close the racial equity communication gap with policymakers and elected officials. IFS continues to be a voice of grassroots and traditional people, Tribal officials, and all those who are often ignored by other surveys. Indian Country will no longer be passed over or excluded from meeting the challenges of the 21st century.”
Today, IllumiNative, Native Organizers Alliance, and Kauffman and Associates, Inc. released the third Indigenous Futures Survey (IFS). The IFS is the largest, most comprehensive research project that is created by Native peoples, for Native peoples. The project is designed to illuminate the authentic experiences, systemic challenges, and priority issues of Native peoples today. The IFS is part of IllumiNative’s overarching Native Power campaign to increase visibility and support for Native peoples.
The goal of IFS 3.0 is to identify the perspectives of Native peoples and collect data that can be shared with organizers, Tribes, and communities throughout Indian Country to mobilize change through research-informed strategies. The learnings from this survey will help leaders, allies, and others better understand the needs and priorities of Native peoples, and ensure that the issues that matter most to Indian Country are at the forefront of the 2024 presidential election, policy creation, and more.
The online survey can be completed by any self-identified Native person 18 years and older. It takes up to approximately 10-15 minutes to complete the survey and all responses are confidential. IFS will report aggregated responses. At the end of the survey, each person taking the survey will be eligible to enter a raffle for $100 gift cards. IllumiNative, Native Organizers Alliance and Native Americans in Philanthropy are also offering $10,000 grants to Native-led community organizations to implement the survey in their community.
This year’s survey is co-led by IllumiNative and Native Organizers Alliance, with Kauffman and Associates, Inc. supporting the survey development and analysis.
“We are thrilled to be leading the third Indigenous Futures Survey to identify the issues that are important to Native peoples and drive informed change,” said Crystal Echo Hawk (Pawnee), Founder and Executive Director of IllumiNative. “Representation is power, and the IFS allows us to gather a robust understanding of the needs of Native peoples to move the needle on critical issues and inform policymakers of the priorities for Indian Country. Ahead of the 2024 election, this data will allow us to mobilize turnout, amplify Native voices, and build Native power for 2024 and beyond.”
“Collecting data about Tribal needs and preferences is a huge undertaking,” said Cynthia Begay, Senior Epidemiologist at Kauffman and Associates, Inc. “For the results to be broadly utilized, carefully organizing data collection that is representative is critically important. IllumiNative and Native Organizers Alliance have partnered to gather information from Native people by Native people for the benefit of Native people. The Indigenous Futures Survey is an excellent way for Native voices to be heard and inform leaders and advocates about our needs.”
The survey will be open from October 11-December 15, 2023. Final survey results will be shared at the end of the first quarter of 2024 in order to empower organizing and advocacy across Indian Country.
