Event Code of Conduct

Inclusive of Virtual and In-Person Hosted Events

 

The Indigenous Futures Society is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and discrimination-free environment for all individuals participating in any and all of our hosted events, including the annual Tribal Summit and associated activities, webinars, and any other hosted event.

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

In accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Indigenous Futures Society recognizes and protects:

Article 2 – Right to be free from discrimination

Indigenous peoples have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their Indigenous origin or identity.

Article 5 – Right to maintain distinct institutions

Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their rights to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State.

Article 11 – Right to practice cultural traditions

Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs, including the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures.

Article 15 – Right to dignity and diversity

Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories and aspirations, which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information.

Additional Protections Under UNDRIP:

• Right to self-determination (Article 3)
• Right to autonomy and self-government (Article 4)
• Right to maintain and develop Indigenous languages (Article 13)
• Right to participate in decision-making (Article 18)

ACCOMMODATIONS

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities. Requests for accommodations should be made in advance, when possible, by contacting Rebecca Allen, (530) 265-8454, ext. 6, [email protected].

APPLICABLE LAWS AND PROTECTIONS

All Indigenous Futures Society hosted events are conducted in full compliance with and under the protection of all applicable international, federal, state, and local civil rights laws, including but not limited to:

International Declarations and Standards:

• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) – adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007, endorsed by the United States in 2010 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Federal Laws:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.)
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.)
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.)
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq.)
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794)
• Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 (25 U.S.C. § 1301 et seq.)
• Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. § 5301 et seq.)
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) including Tribal provisions
• Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
• Trust Responsibility Doctrine (established through treaties and federal case law)
• American Indian Religious Freedom Act (No. 95–341, 92 Stat. 469)

Tribal Law and Sovereignty:

• Applicable Tribal Codes and Constitutions of participating tribes
• Tribal Civil Rights Ordinances and Anti-Discrimination Laws
• Traditional Indigenous Laws and Cultural Protocols
• Tribal Court jurisdiction and enforcement mechanisms
• Inter-tribal agreements and compacts relating to civil rights protections

State Civil Rights Laws:

• All applicable state and local civil rights, anti-discrimination, and human rights statutes
• State-specific sexual harassment and workplace protection laws
• Local ordinances protecting civil rights and human dignity

PROHIBITED CONDUCT

The following conduct is strictly prohibited at all Indigenous Futures Society events:

Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, tribal affiliation, Indigenous identity, traditional practices, language, political beliefs, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, tribal, or international law.

Cultural Discrimination including but not limited to:

• Discrimination based on traditional Indigenous practices, ceremonies, or spiritual beliefs
• Language discrimination against Indigenous languages
• Discrimination based on tribal membership or Indigenous identity
• Interference with cultural expression or traditional dress

Sexual Harassment including but not limited to:

• Unwelcome sexual advances
• Requests for sexual favors
• Verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
• Creating a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment

Harassment of any kind, including verbal, physical, visual, or written harassment based on protected characteristics. All participants and attendees at hosted events accept the obligation to treat everyone with respect and civility and to uphold the rights of all participants and attendees, including Indigenous Futures Society staff, temporary staff, contractors, volunteers and venue staff, to be free from harassment.

REPORTING AND ENFORCEMENT

Immediate Reporting:

• Emergency situations: Contact 911 immediately
• Event violations: Report to Program Executive Rebecca Allen, (530) 265-8454, ext. 6, [email protected] OR TEK Integration Director Dereck Goodwin (Nomlaki, Wailaki, Round Valley), [email protected], (530) 265-8454, ext 7. These individuals will provide appropriate support to those who witnessed or who have experienced harassment or feel unsafe for any reason at the conference. 

All reporting is treated as confidential. All reports will be promptly and thoroughly investigated in accordance with applicable laws and organizational policies. The Indigenous Futures Society will take appropriate corrective action when violations are substantiated. No individual will face retaliation for making a good faith report of discrimination or harassment, or for participating in an investigation.

Formal complaints should be as specific as possible about how alleged behavior constitutes harassment, as defined in this policy. Any report received will remain confidential to the maximum extent possible while the officers of the Indigenous Futures Society considers and investigates the complaint. 

The Indigenous Futures Society reserves the right to remove an individual violating this policy from the current event without warning or refund and prohibit attendance at future events and/or activities.

ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY

This notice serves as formal notification that all participants are subject to the jurisdiction of applicable federal, state, tribal, and international civil rights enforcement mechanisms, including but not limited to:

• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Civil Rights Office
• Tribal Courts and Tribal Civil Rights Commissions
• State human rights commissions
• Local civil rights enforcement agencies
• United Nations Human Rights Council mechanisms (for international law violations)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By registering and/or participating in Indigenous Futures Society events, all individuals acknowledge:

• Receipt and understanding of this notice
• Agreement to comply with all applicable civil rights laws
• Understanding that violations may result in removal from the event and potential legal consequences

Direct questions regarding this notice to or to report violations:

Dr. Rebecca Allen, Program Executive,

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 530 265-2484 ext.6

Date of Notice: 11 June 2025

This notice is posted in compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and remains in effect for the duration of all Indigenous Futures Society hosted events.