About IITIO

IITIO was founded in 2014 at the College of Law, University of Oklahoma, to harness the potential of the inherent Indigenous economic right of Inter-tribal trade.

Jerry Whistler‑Snow, a respected community leader in the greater Indigenous community of Oklahoma, referred Donna and Wayne Garnons‑Williams to Dr. Lindsay Robertson, one of the leading Native American Rights and Indigenous Law experts in the United States.

Dr. Robertson invited Donna and Wayne for coffee at the OU College of Law. It was mid-May and classes were not in session: the Faculty Lounge turned out to be closed. So the conversation, with its already electric focus on the right of inter-tribal trade, moved to the student cafeteria. And that is how a humble booth, located in the back of the Student Lounge at the OU College of Law, came to be the birthplace of IITIO.

Afterwards, as the three walked away and Donna snapped pictures, they joked that somebody should put up a brass plaque to mark the booth. After all, a unique game-changer had just been founded there. Given everything that IITIO has since accomplished, it may be time to set up that plaque!

The core vision of IITIO is international Indigenous trade, developed via the tools, mechanisms, and analysis necessary to assist in the global flow and exchange of Indigenous goods, services and investments.

IITIO Inc. is a registered educational charity under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. IITIO’s head office is in Oklahoma. Having IITIO Inc USA as our corporate base of operations, and with our small and effective executive, IITIO has developed branch chapters that operate in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. IITIO is planning to expand operations based on international trade agreements that successfully include Indigenous trade opportunities.

Our Terms of Reference defines our ongoing mission:

“to apply [our] combined international expertise, passion and experience in addressing tangible issues that can assist in the global flow and exchange of Indigenous goods, services and investments…

…to facilitate productive discussion, objective research, and effective education with respect to international inter-tribal trade and investment, through seminars, conferences and scholarly papers…

…and to recommend measures, activities and policy/regulatory/legislative proposals (initiatives) that can further the global flow and exchange of Indigenous goods and services while respecting its principles (values):

Values:

1. 1. Respect for the Indigenous teachings and, where possible, application of these teachings to the issue of international inter-tribal trade and investment.
   2. Respect and preference for environmentally sustainable international inter‑tribal trade and investment practices.
   3. Sharing of Indigenous trading practices following the Group’s mandate to inform, educate and encourage all parties to Indigenous trade and investment to adopt these best practices where practicable.”