Indigenous communities have long held the vision, capability, and knowledge to guide their own development. Yet generations of exclusion from economic opportunity, underrepresentation in decision-making, and a legacy of disruption to culture, land, and governance have created persistent structural barriers to prosperity.

​

Many communities are still navigating the ongoing process of healing from colonisation and disempowerment, while also demonstrating extraordinary resilience and readiness to shape their own futures. However, the development landscape often fails to recognise this readiness or support communities to act on it.

​

Too often:

• Indigenous economic empowerment is sidelined, or treated as a secondary outcome.

• Programs disregard the essential social and cultural foundations for long-term change.

• Intergenerational succession planning is absent, leaving young people without pathways to leadership or enterprise.

• Indigenous peoples—particularly from North America—remain underrepresented in visual, strategic, and economic narratives.

 

i2i exists to change this dynamic. We believe in development that is done with, by, and for Indigenous Peoples grounded in culture, led by community priorities, and focused on long-term, self-determined success.​