CWIS in Perspective

CWIS, itself an outgrowth of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples, is the premier indigenous think tank in the world. Rudolph Rÿser's work at CWIS with Assembly of First Nations Chief George Manuel and National Congress of American Indians president Joe DeLaCruz has placed the organization in a unique position as an advisory body to tribal peoples in not only North America, but also in other parts of the globe affected by US-sponsored institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and WTO.

With the advent of a new realm of communication through online informal discourse and documentary storytelling, CWIS is in the process of converting the essence of its considerable textual repository to audio/visual formats uploadable to media and downloadable to scholars. Through CWIS outreach via Fourth World Journal and Fourth World Eye and the establishment of an associate scholars network, an international speakers bureau available to media is being developed. Already these associates have influenced news coverage and analysis through outlets like The Real News Network, Indian Country Today, Northwest Indian News, CNN Espanol, MSNBC, KPFK, BBC, Science Digest, and the New York Times.

As the organization comprising indigenous activist scholars who three decades ago laid the groundwork for establishing an indigenous voice at the United Nations and other international venues, CWIS has played a key supportive role for the world’s aboriginal peoples’ struggle to survive as a distinct, authentic form of social organization. Through its continued work in overcoming misunderstandings between the First and the Fourth World, the environmental movement, indigenous movement and pro-democracy movement have access to mentors who understand their role well; what astute philanthropists choose to do about that could make all the difference.