CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE UIC POLICY MAP
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE UIC POLICY MAP
Membership Eligibility
At Urban Indigenous Collective, our understanding of membership is rooted in kinship, reciprocity, and unity. We recognize that Indigenous identity cannot be confined by colonial definitions, borders, or blood quantum.
Our eligibility reflects a decolonized worldview, one that honors all our relations and the interconnectedness of Indigenous peoples across the western hemisphere.
Indigenous Membership
Indigenous Membership
Indigenous Membership
UIC welcomes Indigenous peoples with ancestral ties to:
- Turtle Island (North America)
- Central and South America
- The Caribbean
- The Pacific Islands
We define "Indigenous" as being claimed by, enrolled in, and/or a descendant of a tribal people whose origins are historically tied to land for which they are the original stewards and inhabitants. This includes intertribal, Afro-Indigenous, and diasporic relatives who carry ancestral memory and cultural responsibility, regardless of federal or state recognition.
Allied Membership
Indigenous Membership
Indigenous Membership
UIC also welcomes non-Indigenous allies or Indigenous peoples of the eastern hemisphere, who align with our mission and values.
There are no voting privileges or formal governance roles associated with membership — participation is grounded in relationship, learning, reciprocity, and shared responsibility.
UIC Indigenous membership
Indigenous Membership
We believe identity is affirmed through relationship to land, to community, and to one another. We do not require tribal enrollment cards, blood quantum, or documentation for participation. Instead, we honor self-identification while also recognizing and respecting the sovereign authority of Tribal Nations to define their own citizenship and enrollment processes. We welcome both enrolled Tribal citizens and descendants who carry connection to their peoples, lineages, and communities in diverse ways shaped by history, displacement, migration, and survival.
We ask members to share their tribal, nation, or community affiliation to strengthen kinship, accountability, and representation within our collective. Our approach seeks to create space for Indigenous peoples across the diaspora while remaining in right relationship with Tribal sovereignty and the distinct political status of Tribal Nations.
Indigenous Members have access to:
- Community programming, including educational workshops, craft circles, youth mentorship, and cultural events
- Health and wellness services for eligible programs such as the Indigenous Survivors Program and Weaving Identities Program
- Land-based retreats and healing opportunities, including gatherings like Held by the Land
- Volunteer, employment, and leadership opportunities within community initiatives — with Indigenous members fast-tracked for participation in UIC’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) and priority consideration for job openings within UIC
- Newsletters and community updates to stay connected with events, services, and opportunities
Our membership reflects the prophecy of the Condor and the Eagle: the Eagle of the North and the Condor of the South uniting in harmony to restore balance, peace, and spiritual renewal for all peoples.
Membership Criteria
UIC welcomes Indigenous peoples with ancestral ties to:
- Turtle Island (North America)
- Central and South America
- The Caribbean
- The Pacific Islands
This includes intertribal, Afro-Indigenous, and diasporic relatives who carry ancestral memory and cultural responsibility, regardless of federal or state recognition.
UIC Allied membership
UIC also welcomes non-Indigenous allies or Indigenous peoples of the eastern hemisphere, who align with our mission and values.
There are no voting privileges or formal governance roles associated with membership — participation is grounded in relationship, learning, reciprocity, and shared responsibility.
1. Application
2. Community Guidelines Agreement
2. Community Guidelines Agreement
All prospective allies must complete an online interest form.
This includes:
- Basic information (name, pronouns, affiliation)
- Reflection questions on allyship and accountability
- Previous experience supporting Indigenous communities
- How you learned about UIC
- Agreement to community guidelines
Applicants are asked to reflect on questions such as:
- Why do you want to be an ally to Indigenous communities?
- What does accountability mean to you in Indigenous-led spaces?
- How have you responded to feedback about harm or bias?
These questions are designed to encourage intention and alignment with UIC’s values.
2. Community Guidelines Agreement
2. Community Guidelines Agreement
2. Community Guidelines Agreement
All applicants must agree to shared community expectations, including:
- Respect for Indigenous sovereignty and leadership
- No extraction of knowledge, culture, or relationships
- Respect for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ community members
- Zero tolerance for racism, harassment, or appropriation
- Consent-based photography and storytelling
3. Orientation
2. Community Guidelines Agreement
4. Probationary Period (3 Months)
Applicants must complete a short recorded orientation before approval.
This covers:
- UIC’s mission and values
- The role and responsibility of allies
- Boundaries within Indigenous-led spaces
- How to engage in accountable, non-extractive ways
4. Probationary Period (3 Months)
4. Probationary Period (3 Months)
4. Probationary Period (3 Months)
All new Ally Members begin with a 3-month probation period.
During this time:
- Access is limited to public-facing events
- Indigenous-only spaces remain closed
- Harmful or misaligned behavior may result in removal
5. Community Accountability
4. Probationary Period (3 Months)
5. Community Accountability
UIC maintains a community-centered accountability process.
Community members can share feedback or raise concerns through an anonymous form.
This helps ensure the space remains safe and aligned with our values.
6. Annual Renewal
4. Probationary Period (3 Months)
5. Community Accountability
Ally Membership is an ongoing commitment.
Members renew annually with a short reflection, such as:
- How did you support Indigenous communities this year?
- What did you learn about accountability?
Indigipride 2026: Ballroom Pow Wow
This Pride season, we center the brilliance, survival, and futurity of Two-Spirit, Queer, and Trans Indigenous people.
From powwow circles to ballroom runways, INDIGIPRIDE 2026: Ballroom Pow Wow brings together Indigenous tradition and Ballroom culture in a shared practice of resistance, joy, and collective care. We honor the ancestors who danced before us, the Houses and communities that built refuge and family in hostile cities, and the culture bearers who continue to move us forward, fierce, unapologetic, and alive.