2022 Indigenous Futures Survey now open for submissions

News Release

Native Organizers Alliance

Today, IllumiNative, Native Organizers Alliance, and Research for Indigenous Social Action and Equity (RISE) announced the launch of the second annual Indigenous Futures Survey (IFS), a multi-year Native-led research project designed to illuminate the authentic experiences, systemic challenges, and priority issues of Native peoples today.

The inaugural Indigenous Futures Survey was the largest and most comprehensive study ever conducted in Indian Country, with over 6,460 participants representing 401 tribes from all 50 states. Native and Indigenous peoples all across the United States are invited again to participate in the survey and voice their perspectives and opinions on critical issues impacting them and their communities.

Data gathered from the Indigenous Futures Survey is being used to make real changes on the priorities and needs of Indian Country. The 2021 reports and research data were shared broadly across Indian Country and were used to inform Congress on the impacts of COVID on Indigenous communities, and on a broad spectrum of issues including civic engagement, identity and culture. The 2022 Indigenous Futures Survey will continue to develop reports that address critical issues in and across Native communities.

“Native and Indigenous peoples deserve to be seen and heard,” said Crystal Echo Hawk (Pawnee), founder and executive director of IllumiNative. “For so long, we have been forgotten or worse, deliberately excluded from research and data collection. But we have taken back the power to control our own visibility and future through the Indigenous Futures Survey. I’m thrilled to be able to work again with Native Organizers Alliance and RISE on collecting important data from our communities to ensure Native voices, priorities, and concerns are seen and heard.”

“The 2020 survey was the first opportunity for Native peoples and communities to share the challenges they face with a national audience,” said Judith LeBlanc (Caddo), director of Native Organizers Alliance. “The results gave us a platform to advocate for change at all levels of government. We were able to take a step towards reclaiming our collective voice, showing that Native people are politically engaged and actively challenging the narrative. We proved that our voices matter and that we will organize for meaningful change.”

“For too long data, or lack thereof, has been used to silence and render Indigenous Peoples and experiences invisible. The majority of scientific research omits Indigenous Peoples, including research on bias, prejudice, and discrimination. In the rare cases when Indigenous Peoples are included, our data is most often owned by and interpreted through the lens of non-Native researchers. Ultimately, this keeps people from understanding who we are and seeing us as fully human,” said Dr. Stephanie Fryberg (Tulalip), director of Research for Indigenous Social Action and Equity (RISE) Center. “The Indigenous Futures Survey (IFS) is different. The Indigenous Futures Survey is research for Indigenous Peoples by Indigenous Peoples. This work illuminates the diversity of Indigenous experiences and advances Indigenous well-being by combatting the omission of Indigenous People in research and giving Indigenous communities control over our own stories.”

“The Indigenous Futures Survey results showed Turtle Island what the priorities were and also brought issues to the forefront, we need to collaborate as Tribal Nations,” said Amber Torres, Chairman of the Walker River Paiute Tribe. “This also showed our strengths and weaknesses, and where we can continue to build for the next seven generations. The results in 2022 are very important for the fact that we need to see if we have made a dent in any of the issues that were brought up and where we need to continue to advocate for. Native voices have to be at the table.”

To learn more or to take the Indigenous Futures Survey, please visit: https://indigenousfutures.org. The survey is open for Native peoples to participate until January 31, 2022.

About IllumiNative

IllumiNative is a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of — and challenging the narrative about — Native peoples. Our mission is to build power for Native peoples by amplifying contemporary Native voices, stories, and issues to advance justice, equity, and self-determination. We envision a future where the self-determination and sovereignty of Native peoples is respected and supported; where our children see themselves reflected in the world around them; and where Native peoples author and drive our own narrative.

About Native Organizers Alliance

The Native Organizers Alliance is a training and organizing network dedicated to building the capacity of Native tribes, traditional societies, and community groups to make transformational change. It also provides a forum for Native leaders and organizers to work in collaboration with each other and promote their work with non-Native national allies. The Native Organizers Alliance (NOA) supports grassroots-driven social change rooted in Native traditional practices and values to advance sovereignty and the health and wellbeing of rural and urban Native communities and reservations across Indian Country.

About Rise Center

The Research for Indigenous Social Action and Equity (RISE) Center is led by Dr. Stephanie Fryberg (Tulalip) at the University of Michigan and Dr. Arianne Eason at the University of California Berkeley. The Research for Indigenous Social Action and Equity Center is dedicated to undoing Indigenous inequalities and ensures the Indigenous Futures Survey is grounded in rigorous research methodology from planning the survey questions, database management, data analysis and dissemination of findings that help others understand Indigenous experiences and uplift Indigenous voices and well-being.