What IITC does

The International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in June 1974 at Standing Rock Reservation by more than 5,000 representatives from 98 Indigenous Nations. It is the oldest organization of its kind and was the first Indigenous Peoples' organization granted Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (1977), later upgraded to General Consultative Status (2011). IITC operates advocacy programs across four core areas: Defending Human Rights, Food Sovereignty, Environmental Health, and Treaties & Standard Setting, supplemented by online trainings, an E-Newsletter, and periodic International Indian Treaty Conferences hosted by Indigenous Nations across North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Arctic, and the Pacific. Its beneficiary base spans Indigenous Peoples from the Americas, Caribbean, Arctic, and Pacific regions seeking sovereignty, self-determination, treaty recognition, and protection of traditional cultures and sacred lands.

IITC does not sell products or services and has no proprietary technology platform; instead, it delivers value through UN and intergovernmental advocacy, capacity-building trainings, coalition convenings, and information dissemination. Its revenue model is entirely philanthropic: foundation grants, financial and in-kind contributions from Indigenous Nations and Tribes that are members and affiliates, and tax-deductible private donations. The organization explicitly does not receive state or federal funding. Operations are run by a small core staff (1–10 employees) based in Tucson, AZ and San Francisco, CA, supplemented by an extensive network of program consultants and a Board of Directors drawn from Indigenous Nations across the hemisphere.

The organization's distribution and engagement channels are event-driven rather than commercial, including biennial International Indian Treaty Conferences, UN body participation (UNPFII, EMRIP, FAO, UNFCCC, Stockholm/Minamata Conventions, OAS), webinars, and digital communications (website, e-news, Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr). Strategic partnerships are concentrated in UN and inter-American institutions, including the FAO, UNFCCC, OAS, and the North-South Indigenous Network Against Pesticides, which IITC co-founded and coordinates. The current board includes representation from nations including Beaver Lake Cree, Pit River, Yaqui, Seminole, Dine', Oglala Lakota, Gwich'in, Borikén Taíno, Zapoteca, Kuna, Tohono O'odham, Hawaiian, Terena, and others, with Rigoberta Menchu Tum serving as Honorary Board Member.

Name

IITC

Legal name

International Indian Treaty Council

Website

https://iitc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1974 that supports Indigenous Peoples' human rights, sovereignty, self-determination, and treaty recognition through UN advocacy, capacity-building, and convenings across the Americas, Arctic, Caribbean, and Pacific.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights, Democracy & Rule of Law IGOs (BPADAAAG)

Keywords

• Indigenous rights advocacy
• Treaty rights defense
• Food sovereignty programs
• Environmental health advocacy
• Human rights capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: IITC relies on foundation grants to fund operations, programs, and advocacy work supporting Indigenous Peoples' rights.
2. Indigenous Nations and Tribes Support: Financial and in-kind support from Indigenous Nations and Tribes who are members and affiliates of IITC.
3. Private Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible contributions from private donors, friends and allies. IITC does not receive state or federal funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IITC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization that supports the sovereignty and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples through international advocacy at the United Nations, human rights training and capacity-building, treaty rights defense, food sovereignty programs, and environmental health initiatives. The organization facilitates participation of Indigenous Nations from North, Central, South America, the Caribbean, Arctic, and Pacific in regional, national, and international policy discussions, and operates program areas including Defending Human Rights, Food Sovereignty, Environmental Health, and Treaties & Standard Setting.

Product overview

IITC is a non-profit advocacy organization, not a technology company. It does not offer software products. Instead, IITC provides human rights advocacy programs and services including: the Defending Human Rights Program, Food Sovereignty Program, Environmental Health Program, Treaties & Standard Setting Program, Online Trainings & Webinars, an E-News newsletter, and Treaty Conferences & Resolutions gatherings. These programs support Indigenous Peoples' struggles for sovereignty, self-determination, and rights protection through UN engagement, coalition building, advocacy, training, and information dissemination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Defending Human Rights Program Supports Indigenous Peoples' human rights through UN submissions, urgent actions, advocacy before international bodies, and capacity-building for using human rights processes. Targeted at Indigenous Nations and communities seeking international human rights protection.
• Food Sovereignty Program Builds informed participation of Indigenous Peoples in local, national, regional and international processes to protect and restore traditional food systems, including community trainings and defending rights to land, water, and traditional knowledge.
• Environmental Health Program Provides information, networking and training for Indigenous communities to address impacts of toxic pesticides, persistent organic pollutants, mercury, mining and extractive industries, and promotes safe alternatives and governmental accountability.
• Treaties & Standard Setting Program Works for international recognition of Treaties between Indigenous Nations and States, supports UN Declaration implementation, and advances standards affirming inherent and Treaty rights of Indigenous Peoples.
• Online Trainings & Webinars Provides virtual training sessions and webinars for Indigenous Peoples to build capacity in human rights advocacy, international processes, and rights defense.
• E-News Newsletter Electronic communications network providing updates, news, and opportunities for involvement to share information and build awareness for Indigenous Peoples' struggles.
• Treaty Conferences & Resolutions Organizes International Indian Treaty Conferences bringing Indigenous Peoples together to share information and develop collective strategies to defend their rights, Treaties and ways of life.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Indigenous Peoples' NGO with UN Consultative Status (1977) and first upgraded to General Consultative Status (2011)

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITC actively participates in UNPFII sessions annually, making interventions and submissions on agenda items affecting Indigenous Peoples including human rights, climate change, traditional knowledge, and treaty rights. The organization has formal engagement through its General Consultation Status.
• UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITC co-submitted the 'Final Report: Field Testing the Cultural Indicators for Food Security, Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Development in Indigenous Communities' with FAO. Works on right to food guidelines and food sovereignty for Indigenous Peoples.
• Organization of American States (OAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITC participated in the 40-year process leading to adoption of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2016). Active engagement in OAS Working Group on the Declaration.
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITC participates through the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC), contributing to LCIPP (Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform) and COP negotiations.
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic PollutantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITC works on advocacy regarding persistent organic pollutants and their impacts on Indigenous communities and environmental health.
• UN Minamata Convention on MercuryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITC advocates for Indigenous rights in mercury treaty implementation and has participated in Convention negotiations and COP meetings.
• North-South Indigenous Network Against PesticidescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-regional network addressing pesticide impacts on Indigenous Peoples, co-founded and coordinated by IITC.
• International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of Indigenous organizations working on climate change policy at UNFCCC, of which IITC is an active member.
• Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples Mechanism (CSM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITC participates in the UN Committee on World Food Security through this mechanism representing Indigenous Peoples' interests on food sovereignty.
• UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITC makes submissions to EMRIP on international repatriation, treaty rights, and human rights issues affecting Indigenous Peoples.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forest Peoples Programme: Forest Peoples Programme supports the rights of Indigenous Peoples in forested regions through international advocacy, legal support, and capacity building. Comparable UN-driven advocacy and Indigenous rights focus.
• Survival International: Survival International is a global NGO supporting tribal/Indigenous peoples' rights and self-determination, with active UN advocacy and a donor-funded, non-state funding model similar to IITC.
• Land is Life: Land is Life supports Indigenous-led organizations globally through grantmaking, capacity building, and advocacy. Comparable funder/affiliate support model for Indigenous Peoples' movements.
• Cultural Survival: Cultural Survival is a global Indigenous rights NGO that advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights at the UN and through community-based programs. Comparable in mission, UN consultative engagement, and Indigenous-led governance model.
• Indigenous Environmental Network: IEN is an Indigenous-led environmental advocacy organization engaged in climate, energy, and environmental justice work alongside IITC at UNFCCC and LCIPP forums. Overlapping programmatic scope in environmental health and climate.
• Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education): Tebtebba is an Indigenous-led policy and advocacy organization working on Indigenous rights, sustainable development, and climate policy at the UN. Comparable in mission, UN engagement, and hemispheric/Indigenous convening role.
• International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA): IWGIA is an international NGO that documents Indigenous Peoples' conditions and advocates for their rights at the UN and globally. Comparable UN consultative engagement and Indigenous rights documentation/advocacy.

Emerging players

• Amazon Watch: Amazon Watch is an Indigenous-led NGO focused on protecting the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous rights in South America. Comparable programmatic overlap in environmental health and Indigenous advocacy; more geographically focused.
• First Peoples Worldwide: First Peoples Worldwide works to advance Indigenous economic self-determination and rights through research, advocacy, and partnerships. Comparable Indigenous rights mission with a more economic/development angle.

Regional players

• Native American Rights Fund: NARF is the largest nonprofit law firm dedicated to Indigenous rights in the U.S., providing legal advocacy and capacity building. Comparable Indigenous rights mission but U.S.-focused and litigation-driven.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/treatycouncil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFyhEwhSEY9do8KMewePRtw
• Facebookfacebook.com/treatycouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-indian-treaty-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IITC