Indigenous communities have long stood at the frontlines of climate justice, community-driven innovation, and sustainable, place-based economies. We are the protectors of sacred lands, natural resources, and traditional knowledge systems—guardians not just for our people, but for the planet. And yet, at a time when our leadership is needed most, recent funding cuts threaten to stall or even erase the progress made by Native entrepreneurs and their partners.
Oweesta's recent webinar with Confluence, "Protecting the Protectors: Investing in Native American Sovereignty," explored the urgent need for bold, values-aligned action. My fellow panelists, who included Matthew Campbell, Deputy Director of the Native American Rights Fund, Wizipan Little Elk Garriott, President of the NDN Collective, and moderator Pete Upton, CEO of the Native CDFI Network, lifted up not just the challenges we face, but the solutions our communities are already pioneering.
Now is the time to go deeper. Native communities are not only investment-ready—we are investment-worthy. Below are three essential takeaways for funders, allies, and values-aligned investors committed to true partnership.
1. Be Brave: Reach Out, Ask the Hard Questions, and Show Up
There is no progress without dialogue. Too often, potential funders and partners remain silent out of fear—of asking the wrong question, saying the wrong thing, or getting it wrong. But silence doesn't move the needle. Silence keeps Native communities underfunded and underestimated.
We invite you to be bold. Ask us the uncomfortable questions. Show up with curiosity and humility. We won’t retaliate for your honesty—in fact, we welcome it. We need investors and allies who are willing to get proximate, to sit in discomfort, and to move forward together.
2. See the Bigger Picture: Your Investments Ignite Generational Change
When you invest in Native-led enterprises, you’re not just backing a business—you’re backing entire ecosystems of change. You’re supporting food sovereignty, clean energy, youth leadership, language revitalization, and climate solutions born from centuries of stewardship.
Your capital becomes a catalyst for intergenerational healing, cultural resurgence, and economic liberation. The return is measured not only in dollars but in health, harmony, and hope. These are the legacies you help build when you choose to align your values with your investments.
3. Lean In, Learn More, Be Our Allies
If you’re serious about social justice, racial equity, or climate resilience—you need to be in conversation with Indigenous communities. Attend our events. Read our reports. Walk our lands. Build real relationships. Native people are leading in spaces that many are just beginning to recognize: climate justice, spirituality, community-centered economics, and sovereignty.
We are not new to this work—we are at the head of it. And we are ready for you to join us. Not as saviors. Not as charity. But as true allies.
Investment Opportunities: How You Can Engage
There are many ways to stand with and invest in Native sovereignty:
Equity Grants: Provide catalytic unrestricted grant funding that supports Native-led organizations as they build infrastructure, expand programming, and scale innovation.
Equity Grants Paired with Investment: Amplify your impact by combining equity grants with low-interest or patient capital that allows Native entities to grow sustainably while maintaining ownership and control.
Direct Investment: Become a long-term capital partner. Directly invest in Native CDFIs, Native-led nonprofits, , and community-based enterprises that are transforming local economies and building generational wealth.
Loan Participation: Participate in loans originated by Native CDFIs that support Native-owned small businesses, housing, and community development projects.
Pro Bono Services: Offer your expertise in legal, financial, marketing, or technical areas to strengthen Native institutions.
Spread the Word: Share these opportunities with your friends, colleagues, and networks. Word of mouth from trusted voices is one of the most powerful forms of influence.
The longer the partnership, the greater the impact. We’re looking for committed collaborators—those ready to stand with us not just for a campaign or a grant cycle, but for the long haul.
A Final Word
The road ahead is uncertain, but our vision is clear, and our work is vital. Native communities are reshaping landscapes—economic, environmental, and spiritual—and we invite you to walk with us.
Be brave. Reach out. And invest in a future that protects the protectors.