Epolleo Indigenous Partnership and Benefit Summary
Epolleo recognizes Indigenous Peoples as Original Stewards of Biodiversity
Epolleo recognizes Indigenous Peoples as original stewards of biodiversity, whose ancestral ties to land, ecosystems, and microbial life have shaped sustainable lifeways and ecological knowledge for millennia. This policy affirms Epolleo’s commitment to honoring those relationships through ethical collaboration, inclusion, and benefit-sharing in all campaigns conducted in or near Indigenous communities or territories. It aims to ensure that Indigenous Peoples are not only acknowledged, but actively included in all phases of sample collection, research, and screening processes, with special care taken to ensure that resulting innovations lead to measurable social, cultural, environmental, and health benefits.
All microbial campaigns undertaken near or within Indigenous territories must engage directly with recognized Tribal or Indigenous governance bodies. These engagements must include formal consent and must be rooted in transparent dialogue about the project’s goals, its scientific potential, and the potential benefit to the community. Indigenous representatives should be invited to participate in the design, submission, and execution of projects to ensure cultural and ethical sensitivity throughout. Additionally, campaign documentation must include traditional names or boundaries when available, linking collections to their ancestral origins. Every campaign must clearly state how it expects the work to benefit the community, whether through educational partnerships, environmental protection, cultural preservation, or health-related initiatives.
To ensure visibility and traceability, Epolleo employs a dedicated tagging system, #IndigBiodiversity, which will be applied to all samples associated with Indigenous communities or lands. These tags will appear across Epolleo’s database, reports, and public dashboards, creating a persistent record that links each sample to the tribal affiliation and consent framework from which it originated. This transparency supports both scientific rigor and ethical accountability.
Samples tagged with #IndigBiodiversity receive prioritized review in the Material Transfer Office. When these samples enter innovation review, licensing processes, or commercial partnerships, they will be subject to additional ethical scrutiny to ensure respectful and appropriate use. Indigenous contributors may be invited to participate in the co-development of applications or receive access to data and outcomes tied to their samples. This approach does not claim or assign ownership of microbial resources to any party. Still, it acknowledges that Indigenous Peoples have a vital role in shaping the innovation pathways that stem from their lands.
Campaigns that collect samples with Indigenous significance must include culturally relevant and respectful benefit-sharing strategies. These may include contributions to language preservation, the protection of ceremonial sites, or cultural mapping efforts. Environmental partnerships may involve habitat restoration or stewardship initiatives. Should biomedical or biotechnological innovations arise from these samples, Indigenous communities must be part of the conversation to ensure that the benefits of wellness and longevity are considered. Campaigns are also encouraged to offer educational access through internships, fellowships, or curriculum support, and invite Indigenous voices into the storytelling and publication of scientific findings.
Transparency is a cornerstone of this policy. All Indigenous-partnered projects will be flagged in Epolleo’s annual transparency reports, accompanied by community-facing summaries that outline projected impacts. Campaign leads are required to provide plain-language benefit statements at the outset of a project and submit biannual progress reports. These updates will inform oversight and ensure that stated commitments are honored.
Engagement with Indigenous communities must be grounded in respect and ethical consideration. Where appropriate, Epolleo encourages the use of traditional names and languages in project documentation. Communities may contribute their statements, reflections, or cultural framing to accompany scientific work. Consent will always be required before using community images, names, or stories, and will be handled in accordance with cultural protocols.
This policy aligns with key global frameworks, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) LEAP framework, and UNESCO’s Safeguards for Intangible Cultural Heritage. These standards provide a foundation for fostering a respectful and inclusive science environment.
To ensure this policy is actionable, Epolleo will require compliance as a condition for project approval. Campaigns that fail to meet expectations may be denied, paused, or removed from the platform. The Ethics and Science Oversight Committee will serve as the primary review body, with authority to request revisions to protocols, benefit plans, or consent procedures as needed.
Epolleo’s vision for microbial stewardship includes Indigenous Peoples as co-creators, not bystanders. We believe that the systems we build today must reward shared benefit, promote transparency, and protect cultural and ecological integrity. This policy represents one of many steps toward creating a more just, respectful, and inclusive model for biodiversity innovation. We invite Indigenous sustainability officers, researchers, educators, and leaders to collaborate with us in shaping and evolving this framework.
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Download the Official Epolleo Global Indigenous Partnership and Benefit Policy [version 1.0]
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A Commitment to Partnership, Not Just Participation
A Commitment to Partnership, Not Just Participation
A Commitment to Partnership, Not Just Participation
We believe that meaningful partnerships with Indigenous Peoples are essential to shaping a just, sustainable, and ethical future for biodiversity science.
Epolleo believes in the foundational principles and practices outlined in our Indigenous Partnership and Benefit Policy—a policy grounded in reverence, equity, and the recognition that Indigenous communities are and have always been stewards of the microbial world.
This policy is not simply a set of guidelines. It is an invitation. It is a framework designed to ensure that Indigenous voices, values, and benefits are embedded into every aspect of our scientific work—from the way samples are collected to how discoveries are made, shared, and applied.
Our goal is not to extract, but to co-create: to build long-term, reciprocal, and deeply respectful relationships.
Why Indigenous Collaboration Is Essential
A Commitment to Partnership, Not Just Participation
A Commitment to Partnership, Not Just Participation
Microbial life exists in every corner of the planet, and much of this biodiversity is found in areas that are culturally and ecologically significant to Indigenous communities.
These lands are often governed by traditional knowledge systems that prioritize balance, reciprocity, and interdependence with the natural world.
For Epolleo to fulfill its mission of ethically advancing microbial science, Indigenous collaboration is not optional—it is foundational.
Historically, too many scientific efforts have overlooked or exploited Indigenous communities, failing to offer transparency, inclusion, or fair return.
Our policy seeks to turn that page. It is built around the understanding that Indigenous sovereignty, cultural protection, and long-term benefit must shape the way any collection or screening project is proposed, approved, and implemented.
Inclusion, Consent, and Cultural Mapping
A Commitment to Partnership, Not Just Participation
Inclusion, Consent, and Cultural Mapping
For any Epolleo campaign that touches Indigenous lands or involves Indigenous knowledge, our process begins with:
- Formal Consent from Indigenous Governance: Campaign organizers must engage with recognized Indigenous leadership to gain approval. This ensures trust, clarity, and that all actions are based on consent.
- Participation at All Project Phases: Indigenous partners must be involved throughout all project phases, from early planning to implementation. This guarantees culturally relevant practices are upheld and respected.
- Cultural Documentation and Acknowledgment: Campaigns must document traditional names, land markers, and cultural zones to connect the scientific process with community identity and understanding.
- Benefit Clarity from the Start: Campaigns must state how the Indigenous community will benefit. This may be through cultural, educational, environmental, or health pathways, and must be determined collaboratively.
The #IndigBiodiversity Tracking System
Priority Review and Pathways to Innovation
Inclusion, Consent, and Cultural Mapping
To make these projects visible and accountable, Epolleo uses the #IndigBiodiversity tag:
- Sample Tagging: Each sample linked to Indigenous collaboration is tagged and digitally recorded. This highlights its cultural significance.
- Public Visibility: Tagged samples are displayed in public dashboards and reports. Communities and stakeholders can monitor how samples are used.
- Metadata Association: Each tag links back to details such as tribal affiliation, consent records, and project intent. This provides full context and promotes informed oversight.
Priority Review and Pathways to Innovation
Priority Review and Pathways to Innovation
Priority Review and Pathways to Innovation
When Indigenous-tagged samples move into research or commercialization:
- Priority Review Process: These samples undergo initial ethical and scientific evaluation. Indigenous-partnered work is placed at the front of the review line.
- Invitation to Co-Development: Indigenous communities may participate in innovation outcomes—such as product design, testing, or knowledge use—if desired.
- Ethical Safeguards: Every project is reviewed to prevent cultural misappropriation or inappropriate use. This ensures values are honored alongside science.
Shared Benefits, Not Just Shared Data
Priority Review and Pathways to Innovation
Priority Review and Pathways to Innovation
Every campaign involving Indigenous communities must offer tangible and measurable benefits:
- Cultural Preservation: This may include support for traditional knowledge, language revival, or mapping of sacred areas.
- Environmental Restoration: Projects can offer direct improvements to local ecosystems, traditional agriculture, or biodiversity protection.
- Health and Wellness: If a sample leads to medical insights, Indigenous participants are included in shaping the application and potential community use.
- Educational Opportunities: Training programs, fellowships, or co-developed teaching tools support long-term growth and local empowerment.
- Community Storytelling: Indigenous communities are invited to shape the way their story is told, in research papers, public exhibits, or digital archives.
Transparency, Reporting, and Accountability
Respectful Engagement and Cultural Protocols
Respectful Engagement and Cultural Protocols
To ensure follow-through, Epolleo embeds visibility into every campaign:
- Project Listing: All Indigenous-related projects are published in an annual report. This shows who is involved and what has been accomplished.
- Plain-Language Impact Plans: Each project includes a clear summary of how it will help the community involved.
- Biannual Reporting: Campaign leaders must share progress updates twice a year. This keeps both Epolleo and the community aligned on goals.
Respectful Engagement and Cultural Protocols
Respectful Engagement and Cultural Protocols
Respectful Engagement and Cultural Protocols
We prioritize respect and care in every interaction:
- Traditional Names and Language: When welcomed, Indigenous languages and land names are used in documentation.
- Community Reflections and Authorship: Indigenous leaders may offer written contributions or commentary to frame the project’s meaning.
- Consent for Stories and Images: Photos, videos, or quotes are only used with explicit and informed approval.
Global Alignment and Ethical Foundations
Respectful Engagement and Cultural Protocols
Global Alignment and Ethical Foundations
This policy follows best-practice models from global Indigenous rights standards:
- UNDRIP: Supports rights to self-determination, language, and cultural resources.
- Nagoya Protocol: Ensures benefit-sharing for genetic and biological resources.
- TNFD LEAP: Builds Indigenous-informed nature and finance frameworks.
- UNESCO Safeguards: Protects cultural stories, practices, and identity in scientific settings.
Advanced Science and Technology Solutions
Coming Soon: Epolleo’s Indigenous Partners Hub
At Epolleo, we honor Indigenous Peoples as original stewards of biodiversity and essential partners in shaping a sustainable, ethical, and inclusive future for microbial science. This space is dedicated to you—tribal nations, Indigenous researchers, educators, youth leaders, and sustainability officers—who carry forward generations of ecological knowledge, cultural wisdom, and innovation rooted in the land.
Epolleo is a global nonprofit platform that supports the discovery, documentation, and preservation of microbial diversity. Our work involves the collection and curation of microbial samples that contribute to global health, environmental restoration, food security, and biotechnological innovation. However, we recognize that many of these microbial ecosystems exist on lands with deep cultural and spiritual significance, and that the knowledge to care for them has long been held by Indigenous communities.
We are not here to extract—we are here to collaborate.
Through our Indigenous Partnership and Benefit Policy, Epolleo has established a framework that prioritizes Indigenous participation, ensures transparency, and fosters shared value. We work directly with tribal governments and Indigenous-led organizations to co-design every step of our campaigns—from sample collection and data use to innovation and benefit-sharing. Projects that occur on or near Indigenous lands require formal consent from recognized leadership, and all Indigenous-partnered campaigns are treated as a distinct and respected class within our system.
When a project includes Indigenous contributions, it is tagged with #IndigBiodiversity—a systemwide marker that ensures visibility, ethical oversight, and long-term tracking of samples and research outcomes. These projects receive priority during screening and licensing, and community partners are invited to participate in discussions around co-development, innovation, and long-term benefits.
We recognize that benefit means more than revenue. For some communities, value may come in the form of restoring ecosystems, supporting language revitalization, creating youth internship pathways, improving health outcomes, or contributing to land rematriation. Epolleo is committed to supporting these goals through transparent agreements that are shaped with, not for, each community.
This website hub is designed to provide resources, stories, tools, and entry points for Indigenous Peoples who want to engage with Epolleo. You are welcome here, whether you are:
- A tribal council member interested in launching a microbial stewardship campaign.
- A cultural leader curious about how microbial data can support food, soil, or wellness initiatives.
- A teacher or curriculum developer working to bring science rooted in Indigenous values into classrooms.
- A young researcher looking for internships, pathways, and partners to elevate Indigenous science.
Epolleo believes that the future of biodiversity science must be co-authored by Indigenous communities—not referenced after the fact. We view every collaboration as a relationship, not a transaction. This means engaging in long-term dialogue, community-led decision-making, and a commitment to listening, revising, and building trust at every step.
On this page, you’ll find:
- An overview of our Indigenous Partnership and Benefit Policy
- A guide to how #IndigBiodiversity tagging works
- Case studies and campaigns led in collaboration with Indigenous communities
- Grant, internship, and educational opportunities for tribal students and professionals
- Direct contact information for our Indigenous Liaison team
We also invite Indigenous communities to suggest improvements, propose new ideas, and tell us how we can better serve your needs. Epolleo is not a finished platform—it is an evolving ecosystem. We know that evolution only occurs through inclusion, humility, and shared leadership.
If you would like to explore partnership, submit a campaign, or ask questions about how your community can engage with microbial innovation through Epolleo, please reach out to our Indigenous Relations team at indigenous@epolleo.org.
We look forward to working with you—and learning from you—as we build a future where microbial diversity and cultural resilience thrive together.