Indigenous artists would generate the content for NFTs that would be sold (along with physical copies of the artwork) to raise funds for the mission of the organization. That mission: to acquire land and transfer stewardship back to Indigenous communities. The ownership of the land parcel would also be tracked via NFT on the blockchain. This work is important for social justice, promoting Indigenous voices, and biodiversity.
The following articles clearly outline the problem and speak to the importance of decentralized land ownership infrastructure.
<https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/indigenous-land-rights-critical-pillar-climate-action>
<https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/securing-land-tenure-indigenous-peoples-directly-combats-climate-change>
This proposal aligns with de Soto's ideas of property ownership as the foundation for alleviating poverty. As I'm based in the US, the pilot would apply to marginalized communities within a developed nation. That said, it could easily be applied to Indigenous communities in developing communities as capacity allows.
Property ownership is at the heart of Native American injustices. Establishing decentralized and trustworthy land ownership legal frameworks, processes, and institutions are mentioned as solutions by both of the above linked articles and are another nod to de Soto's principles.
Blockchain provides the opportunity to re-establish Indigenous tribes as the rightful owners of the land; and in doing so, develop an understanding for how to apply Cardano in areas of land ownership and nonprofits.
Relationships with the Indigenous groups are key. Without the tribes' authentic participation, the project means little. Having a solid understanding of the operations and taking the time to co-create solutions with the communities, will build trust and ultimately ensure a human-centered design.
Prioritizing the land to purchase will be critical. As a general rule: land should have the maximum value to the community at the most effective cost. Unfortunately, land only becomes available if the seller is willing. Communication with the community, and thorough research of potential sites, will be important for minimizing wasted effort.