Over the course of 2022, RRI commissioned in-depth interviews with one hundred leaders of grassroots networks in 22 countries—men, women, and youth among Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples—about their hopes, dreams, and fears for the future. The interviews used the “Blue Skies” thinking approach, which is a freeform space for brainstorming and new ideas. We encouraged participants to be open-minded and to think beyond day-to-day concerns. We sought clarity on what they want the world to be like in 2030 and beyond, how such a world could be brought into being, and their worries about their paths to get there. The leaders we interviewed expressed diverse views but shared at least one universal vision. In a “blue skies” world, their communities would have secure rights to their communal lands, forests, and territories; including the rights to govern these areas and exercise control over who lives there and uses their resources. Four key themes emerged in these conversations:

• The need for a new generation of foundational leaders
• The freedom to live with dignity and rights
• Embracing technology to create new narratives
• The creation of a new Indigenous model of economy

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