Indigenous Environmental Network
The Indigenous Environmental Network is a nonprofit coalition founded in 1991 that organizes Indigenous Peoples and allies around environmental justice, opposing fossil fuel extraction, pipelines, and false climate solutions through grassroots campaigns, policy advocacy, and UNFCCC participation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersBemidji, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Indigenous Environmental Network does
Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is a nonprofit advocacy coalition founded in 1991 at the 2nd Annual Protecting Mother Earth gathering near sacred Bear Butte in South Dakota, where approximately 500 Native people authored its Unifying Principle and Environmental Code of Ethics. Headquartered in Bemidji, Minnesota, IEN operates as an alliance of Indigenous Peoples organized around environmental justice, with a stated mission to protect Earth Mother from contamination and exploitation through adherence to Indigenous Knowledge and Natural Law. The organization runs a portfolio of campaigns — Just Transition, Keep It In The Ground (Keystone XL, Line 3, NO DAPL, Magellan pipeline), Carbon Trading and Offsets, Indigenous Feminisms, and UNFCCC-COP advocacy — and coordinates grassroots organizing, direct action, coalition building, and policy advocacy at international climate negotiations.
IEN does not sell products or services; its 'products' are advocacy outputs including investigative reports (Hoodwinked in the Hothouse, The Big Con, Chasing Carbon Unicorns, Banking on Climate Chaos, All Risk No Reward), educational toolkits (Carbon Pricing Toolkit V1/V2), documentary videos (the Article 6 False Solutions documentary from COP25 Madrid 2019), and interactive community maps (Oil & Gas Threat Map, National Energy & Petrochemical Map). The technology stack is intentionally minimal — a WordPress website (ienearth.org), MyNewsletterBuilder email platform, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram) — with no proprietary technology products, AI capabilities, APIs, or software-as-a-service offerings.
IEN's business model is nonprofit: revenue is derived from individual donations, foundation grants, and newsletter solicitations, with no pricing model or commercial transactions. Go-to-market is community-led coalition organizing rather than product sales, and customer segments are vertical — Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities affected by fossil fuel extraction, tar sands pipelines, uranium mining, and carbon market false solutions. The organization maintains a small staff (1–10 employees including Executive Director Tom Goldtooth, National Pipeline Organizer Mark Tilsen, and Tar Sands Organizer Marty Cobenais) and is a core member of multiple advocacy coalitions including Climate Justice Alliance, Grassroots Global Justice, It Takes Roots, Right to the City Alliance, United Frontline Table, and ClimateFalseSolutions.org.
Indigenous Environmental Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- Legal name
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- Website
- https://ienearth.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Indigenous Environmental Network is a nonprofit coalition founded in 1991 that organizes Indigenous Peoples and allies around environmental justice, opposing fossil fuel extraction, pipelines, and false climate solutions through grassroots campaigns, policy advocacy, and UNFCCC participation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Indigenous Environmental Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health (BPAGAGAL), Stakeholder Engagement, Indigenous/Tribal Consultation & Social Impact (SIA) (EUAHAAAH)
Keywords
Where Indigenous Environmental Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bemidji
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Indigenous Environmental Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: IEN operates as a nonprofit organization supported by donations and likely grants from foundations and individual contributors. The organization solicits support through its website with a donate button and newsletter subscriptions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Indigenous Environmental Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is a nonprofit alliance of Indigenous Peoples that delivers environmental justice advocacy through grassroots organizing, direct-action campaigns, and policy advocacy. Its core activities include coalition building (Climate Justice Alliance, Grassroots Global Justice, It Takes Roots), resistance to fossil fuel extraction and pipeline projects, opposition to carbon markets and false climate solutions, and participation in UNFCCC COP climate negotiations. The organization also produces investigative reports, educational toolkits, and documentary resources to support community-based climate action.
Product overview
Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is an alliance of Indigenous Peoples organized around protecting Mother Earth from contamination and exploitation. Rather than a unified software product, IEN operates as a campaign-focused advocacy organization offering a portfolio of educational publications, documentary resources, and organizing toolkits. Key offerings include the Carbon Pricing Toolkit (Volumes 1 and 2) for community resistance education, investigative reports on false climate solutions like 'The Big Con' and 'Chasing Carbon Unicorns,' documentary videos on Article 6 and carbon markets, and the annual 'Banking on Climate Chaos' report. These publications support their campaigns around Just Transition, Keep It In The Ground, Indigenous Feminisms, and UNFCCC-COP advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- IEN has published extensive research on false climate solutions including Carbon Pricing toolkit, Hoodwinked in the Hothouse report series, The Big Con report, and Chasing Carbon Unicorns report
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Indigenous Environmental Network
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Indigenous Environmental Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Indigenous Environmental Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Climate Justice AlliancecoreIEN is a member of the Climate Justice Alliance, a coalition of organizations working on just transition and frontline climate solutions. The alliance coordinates campaigns including Build Back Fossil Free.
- Grassroots Global JusticecoreGrassroots Global Justice is listed as an IEN alliance partner, collaborating on climate justice initiatives and policy advocacy.
- It Takes RootscoreIEN participates in the It Takes Roots coalition which sends frontline delegations to UN climate negotiations. In 2021, sent over 60 people from impacted communities to COP26.
- Right to the City AllianceminorListed as an IEN alliance partner, focused on urban environmental justice issues.
- United Frontline TableminorListed as an IEN alliance partner, coordinating frontline climate justice work.
- ClimateFalseSolutions.org CoalitioncoreIEN is a founding member of the ClimateFalseSolutions.org coalition which produces the Hoodwinked in the Hothouse report series. Coalition includes Biofuelwatch, Energy Justice Network, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, ETC Group, Global Justice Ecology Project, Indigenous Climate Action, Just Transition Alliance, La Via Campesina, and others.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Indigenous Environmental Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Indigenous Climate Action: Indigenous-led organization advancing climate justice through movement building and policy advocacy. Co-founding member of the ClimateFalseSolutions.org coalition with IEN; comparable scale and Indigenous-led nonprofit structure.
- Climate Justice Alliance: Coalition of frontline organizations working on just transition and climate solutions. Direct alliance partner of IEN; coordinates shared campaigns including Build Back Fossil Free and shares member organizations and advocacy posture.
- La Via Campesina: International peasants and Indigenous movement coordinating food sovereignty and climate justice across 80+ countries. Co-founding member of ClimateFalseSolutions.org coalition with IEN; shares rejection of carbon markets and commitment to grassroots movement building.
- ETC Group: International civil society organization addressing climate justice, biodiversity, and corporate power in food and technology systems. Co-founding member of ClimateFalseSolutions.org coalition with IEN; shares oppositional stance on false climate solutions and corporate greenwashing.
- Honor the Earth: Indigenous-led environmental nonprofit based in Minnesota focused on climate justice, cultural preservation, and opposition to fossil fuel infrastructure. Closely aligned mission and geography with IEN; founded by same extended Indigenous activist network.
- Grassroots Global Justice: Alliance of grassroots organizations building power for climate justice. Direct coalition partner with IEN; collaborates on frontline community delegation to UNFCCC COPs and shared organizing campaigns.
- Earth Guardians: Indigenous-led intergenerational climate organization training youth to lead environmental campaigns. Smaller and youth-focused relative to IEN, but shares Indigenous-led climate advocacy posture and grassroots organizing model.
Broad incumbents
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large environmental advocacy organization working on climate, energy, and environmental justice. Far larger scale than IEN; engages on pipeline and fossil fuel issues with more policy/legal approach rather than grassroots direct action.
- 350.org: Global climate advocacy organization focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels. Larger and broader in scope than IEN, but shares anti-fossil fuel advocacy posture and UNFCCC COP engagement; differs in being more Western-led and less Indigenous-specific.
- Sierra Club Foundation: Major U.S. environmental organization advocating for climate, conservation, and just transition. Much larger scale and broader portfolio than IEN; overlaps on fossil fuel opposition and Just Transition advocacy, but less Indigenous-led and less oppositional on carbon markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Indigenous Environmental Network social profiles
Digital presenceIndigenous Environmental Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Indigenous Environmental Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Indigenous Environmental Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Indigenous Environmental Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Indigenous Environmental Network
What does Indigenous Environmental Network do?
Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is a nonprofit alliance of Indigenous Peoples that delivers environmental justice advocacy through grassroots organizing, direct-action campaigns, and policy advocacy. Its core activities include coalition building (Climate Justice Alliance, Grassroots Global Justice, It Takes Roots), resistance to fossil fuel extraction and pipeline projects, opposition to carbon markets and false climate solutions, and participation in UNFCCC COP climate negotiations. The organization also produces investigative reports, educational toolkits, and documentary resources to support community-based climate action.
Is Indigenous Environmental Network a public or private company?
Indigenous Environmental Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Indigenous Environmental Network founded?
Indigenous Environmental Network was founded in 1991. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Indigenous Environmental Network based?
Indigenous Environmental Network is headquartered in Bemidji, United States, in the North America region.
How does Indigenous Environmental Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Indigenous Environmental Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Indigenous Climate Action, Climate Justice Alliance, La Via Campesina, ETC Group, Honor the Earth, Grassroots Global Justice and Earth Guardians. Broad incumbents are Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 350.org and Sierra Club Foundation.
Does Indigenous Environmental Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Indigenous Environmental Network.
What industry is Indigenous Environmental Network in?
Indigenous Environmental Network's product category is Environmental Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAF, Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAL, Environmental Justice & Community Environmental Health. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8600.