Building Knowledge Through Research
The Indigenous Futures Survey (IFS) is a multi-year national research project to build knowledge around the perspectives, issues, and concerns of Native peoples. In partnership with IllumiNative and Native researchers, we have conducted three iterations of the survey, which have seen an average participation of more than 5,400 respondents, making it the largest study created by Native peoples, for Native peoples.
Informing Policy Makers on Key Issues
The IFS survey allows NOA and our partners to better understand and stay informed about priority issues within our communities, which we can use to educate policy makers. The data also provides insight that allows us to mobilize around a variety of issues impacting our communities.
Data-Informed Voting Resources for Swing States
With the upcoming 2024 U.S. elections in November, we utilized IFS 3.0 data to create informational resources that can be used by organizers in 11 swing states. Click the link below to find handouts with information about what Native peoples are most concerned about in those states.
Addressing the Climate Crisis using Indigenous Research
In 2024, IFS 3.0 found that environmental protection and climate change issues were the top priority for Native peoples who took the survey, followed by the desire to advance tribal sovereignty and concerns about the U.S. economy and cost of living.
While this might not come as a surprise to some, it underscores the ongoing need to advocate for the protection of sacred lands, tribal co-management of public lands, and the incorporation of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge in decision-making about lands and waters.
IFS is a collaborative between Native Organizers Alliance and Illuminative
This year, IFS is being co-led by IllumiNative and Native Organizers Alliance. We partnered with Kauffman and Associates, a Native-led research team, to design and implement IFS 3.0. Each partner contributes their unique expertise to every step of this groundbreaking research to lift up the voices of Native peoples. Together we are putting research into action to achieve equity for our people.
