High Level Findings

Decolonizing Settler States articulated what Indigenous Peoples identify as needs for Indigenous human rights implementation; this PG will build the systems and tools that Indigenous Peoples have identified.

Decolonizing Settler States systematically documented Indigenous Peoples’ research needs through community engagements (180+ total participants) in four Canadian Indigenous communities (Haida Gwaii, Kahnawà:ke, Kanehsatà:ke, Samson Cree Nation), workshops in Sápmi and Auckland, and a February 2025 wrap-up workshop at the University of Guelph. These revealed that Indigenous Peoples need monitoring and accountability tools, legal and policy resources, intergenerational educational supports, and stronger linkages between domestic implementation and international Indigenous diplomacy. Decolonizing Settler States successfully brought together the core leadership team and partners, developing shared understanding, building trust across academic–practitioner divides, developing the Ottawa Model of Collaborative Research, and establishing relationships with Indigenous Peoples in multiple regions.

Decolonizing Settler States identified four critical structural gaps:

1. Decolonizing Settler States revealed a persistent disconnect between academic research evidence and practitioner knowledge, which led our team to develop the Ottawa Model as a structured approach to collaborative research. The Ottawa Model of collaborative research is comprised of initial joint symposia, distinct but interconnected academic and practitioner research streams, ongoing cross-sectoral exchange, and dual scholarly and practitioner outputs with deliberate cross-dissemination. This model provides the methodological foundation for all research projects to be undertaken within the PG.

2. Decolonizing Settler States identified a de-linking between domestic and international Indigenous rights work. In response, this Partnership intentionally integrates domestic capacity-building with support for Indigenous participation in United Nations mechanisms.

3. Decolonizing Settler States identified a gap between formal legal advances and meaningful implementation on the ground. In response, the Partnership prioritizes the development of collective capacity and long-term research infrastructure.

4. Finally, Decolonizing Settler States documented the declining effectiveness of traditional advocacy approaches. In response, this PG shifts focus from persuading reluctant governments to recognize Indigenous rights and instead prioritizes building Indigenous Peoples' own capacity for sustained implementation and self-advocacy.