The Indigenous Biocultural Exchange (IBEX) provides financial assistance to an individual to attend global biocultural event or forums of international significance which impact their home territory or region. The focus of the IBEX examines biocultural issues—the rich but neglected, adaptive interweave of people and place, culture and ecology. IBEX supports indigenous peoples and local communities to have a voice in the policies and forums that concern biocultural diversity at a global level (for example, in relation to UNDRIP and other UN Conventions, such as the Right to Food and the Convention on Biological Diversity).

IBEX aims to encourage an active and participatory exchange of knowledge systems, especially for, but not limited to, individuals in the following regions: African Rift Valley, Central Asia & Turkey, Southwest U.S. & Northern Mexico, Northern Australia, and Melanesia. Of special interest are indigenous peoples and local communities who have been traditionally under-represented in biocultural events, including but not limited to, women, youth, and first-time travelers.

Benefits

IBEX recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award event-related costs, which include international airfare, lodging, conference fees, meals, incidentals, local transportation, visa fees, and travel insurance.

A maximum of $5,000.00 USD is awarded to selected applicants. Based on the applicant’s budget submission and the availability of funds, the award total may be flexible.

Eligibility

Applicant must be indigenous (definition below) or a member of a local indigenous community.

The modern understanding of this term used and advanced by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is based on the following:

• Self-identification as indigenous peoples at the individual level and accepted by the community as their member
• Historical continuity with pre-colonial and/or pre-settler societies
• Strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources
• Distinct social, economic or political systems
• Distinct language, culture and beliefs
• Form non-dominant groups of society
• Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities

For applicants who meet the above criteria, additional preference will be given to:

• Women
• Youth (18-28)
• Exchange from the following regions: African Rift Valley, Central Asia & Turkey, Southwest U.S. & Northern Mexico, Northern Australia, and Melanesia
• First-time traveler

Application Details

Applications for the Spring 2019 round of this competition will be open from March 1- April 16. All applications are due by 11:59 pm EDT. To apply, visit https://apply.iie.org/IBEX.

Applications for the Fall 2019 round of this competition will be open from September 1- October 15. All applications are due by 11:59 pm EDT.