Sustainable Indigenous Finance Hub

A Message from US SIF and the Indigenous Advisory Council

Welcome to the Sustainable Indigenous Finance Hub! US SIF’s Sustainable Indigenous Finance Initiative is grounded in a shared commitment to strengthening understanding, engagement with, and inclusion of Indigenous Peoples across responsible investing.

The Hub builds on our inaugural report, Sustainable Indigenous Finance: Navigating the Energy Transition, and reflects months of listening, learning, and collaborating with Indigenous partners, investment professionals, and other key stakeholders. It is designed to support investors in approaching due diligence, risk management, opportunity, and partnership, while elevating the voices and priorities of Indigenous Peoples. Whether you are an investor, Indigenous leader, practitioner, researcher, or corporation, we hope this space offers meaningful resources and pathways for deeper involvement.

The intersection between Indigenous Peoples and finance represents one of the most powerful opportunities of our time. Indigenous inclusion is more than an ethical responsibility - it is a strategic imperative that strengthens resilience, supports shared prosperity, and creates long-term value for communities, economies, and the planet. At US SIF, we are eager to do our part and look forward to the work ahead.

- Libby Washburn (Right), Associate CEO, Native American Agriculture Fund; Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation & Olivia Lieberthal (Left), Senior Manager, US SIF

Sustainable Indigenous Finance: Navigating the Energy Transition

A first-of-its-kind resource designed to equip investors with actionable tools and guidance to advance due diligence, manage material risks, and strengthen Indigenous inclusion and engagement across investment practices as the world navigates the energy transition.

Download

US SIF - Indigenous Peoples Investor Guide Cover

About the Hub

The Sustainable Indigenous Finance Hub is the central platform of the Sustainable Indigenous Finance Initiative (SIFI).

A collaborative effort that brings together Indigenous leaders, partner organizations, and investment professionals to reshape how capital markets engage with Indigenous Peoples, align investment practices with Indigenous priorities, and strengthen long-term value creation. Rooted in Indigenous thought leadership, investment expertise, and academic rigor, the Hub offers a dynamic space for innovation, knowledge-sharing, and practical action.

Through this platform, we seek to elevate Indigenous voices, amplify practitioner insights, and foster collaboration among those committed to building more equitable, sustainable, and impactful financial systems.

Background

US SIF’s work on Indigenous Peoples' concerns dates back decades, including hosting the Indigenous Peoples’ Working Group. Through the efforts of our members and global partners, progress has been made, but more is needed to address critical gaps and ongoing challenges. Indigenous inclusion is fundamental for managing financial risks and opportunities. US SIF is committed to doing our part to ensure that Indigenous Peoples are fully integrated into investment decision-making.

Land Acknowledgement

“We respectfully acknowledge the ancestral land upon which the US Sustainable Investment Forum sits in Washington, DC. This territory is part of the homelands of Traditional Owners of this area, including the Nacotchtank (Anacostan), Piscataway Conoy, Pamunkey, and Manahoac people and other Ancient Nations. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and all the First Nations Elders in our global community. US SIF strives to interact with First Peoples responsibly and respectfully.”

Indigenous Advisory Council

Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, J.D.

CEO, Native American Financial Fund

Bryan Newland

Principal, Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville’s Indian Tribal Governments Group

Janie Simms Hipp

CEO, Native Agriculture Financial Service

Larry Roberts

Attorney General, Mohegan Tribe

Libby Washburn

Associate CEO, Native American Agriculture Fund

Quotes

"The work of US SIF and especially this report is so critical as a resource. First policy makers need to understand that markets have a say in their plans (good or not). Second: I should shout this to every journalist covering climate or the environment — SIF is a resource that you should use often. And, third, people need a better understanding about the role investors play in making a more sustainable (and for that matter, profitable) world."
Mark Trahant
Writer, Non-Executive Board Chair IndiJ Public Media, Shoshone-Bannock
"The energy transition must not only be fast, but also fair. Too often Indigenous Peoples have borne the brunt of mining activities on their ancestral lands while receiving limited benefits. Many have stood up to demand their rights through actions like peaceful protest and litigation. Mining projects that fail to implement safeguards not only miss opportunities to mitigate human rights and environmental impacts, but also risk costly project delays and stoppages. Now is a critical moment for investors to use their leverage to promote sustainable mining development and reliable transition mineral supply chains."
Emily Greenspan
Associate Director, Oxfam America
"Renewable energy is critical to enabling and hastening the much-needed energy transition, benefiting us all. However, those benefits do not exempt companies from their duty to respect human rights, including the right of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination. It is vital that investors, as fiduciaries and advocates, conduct thorough due diligence on companies and projects to ensure they respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples."
Steven Heim
Managing Director, Boston Common Asset Management
"As a native person working in responsible investment, I see sustainable finance as an opportunity to bring core values of reciprocity, respect, and relationship back into the movement of capital. For indigenous communities, that means not being seen only as stakeholders, but as rights-holders and key partners in shaping a more equitable future for people and the planet."
Kevin O'Neal-Smith (Yaa sh kanda.ets')
(Adasina Social Capital, Tlingit, G̱aanax̱teidí)
"For too long, the material risks tied to Indigenous lands, food systems, and natural resources have been treated as peripheral to investment decisions. As we move through the energy transition and confront growing food insecurity, the capital markets and investors can develop collaborative market-leading partnerships with expert Tribal communities to catalyze new markets, address challenges and achieve above market investment returns."
Janie Simms Hipp
Founding CEO, Native Agriculture Financial Services; Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma

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Learn How to Get Involved

We invite you to be part of the growth of the Sustainable Indigenous Finance Hub.

Interested in contributing content, sharing your insights, or exploring partnership opportunities? Visit our “Get Involved” page to learn more, or connect directly with a member of the US SIF team. Contact details are available at the link below.

Get Involved