Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem Update

In this update:

The Narrative War
Indigenous Zionism
Hon Alfred Ngaro
International Board of Reference
Canadian Connections
Australian Collaboration
Face to Face Engagement
Debunking the Khazar Theory
Coming up in 2026

THE NARRATIVE WAR

In the last week a temporary ceasefire has been reached between the US, Israel and Iran. It’s too early to determine what the outcome will be, but clearly there are many significant issues to be resolved; control of the Strait of Hormuz, uranium enrichment and the prospect that the Islamic regime will continue to maintain strict totalitarian rule over the Iranian people and operate its proxy network in the Middle East with the goal to annihilate Israel.

While there’s little we can do to influence the military battle, we are fully engaged in the eighth front of war - the war of narratives.

As an organisation representing Indigenous voices in support of Israel we have an urgent task and a unique position. We are faced with a global narrative war in which Zionism, the establishment of a Jewish state, has been framed as a foreign colonisation project, rather than an ancient indigenous people’s return to ancestral lands. Jewish history is erased, Zionism is labelled racism and oppression, antisemitism is rebranded “justice”. Policy, law, and public opinion are reshaped. Universities, media, NGOs, UN agencies, governments, and social media discourse, have all adopted this narrative as orthodoxy.

INDIGENOUS ZIONISM

We recognise that this is an existential struggle and academia is a critical battlefield. This is why we have focussed on academic projects in the first two years of our existence, holding successful Academic Symposia in 2024 and in 2025. We are creating a body of material to push back against the lies.

We are also in a unique position as Indigenous peoples - many of our number have experienced things similar to those endured by the Jewish people; loss of land, massacres, expulsion, discrimination, suppression of culture etc. We have learnt in our struggle for justice and self-determination that we need not be defined by what we oppose, but by what we stand for and who we are.

This is why we affirm that Zionism is an Indigenous movement. The Jewish people are in many respects the archetypal Indigenous people, whose connection to their ancient land, ancestors and cultural practices have been maintained over millennia.

Dr Sheree Trotter lays this out in an op-ed first published by Algemeiner: Indigenous Zionism

HON ALFRED NGARO

IEJ Co-Founder Hon Alfred Ngaro will stand as a candidate for New Zealand First in New Zealand’s upcoming General Election. Alfred has always stood strongly with Israel and has openly declared his Zionism. He has joined a party whose leader stood on principle and common sense at the UN in September 2025, in refraining from recognising Palestinian statehood. We wish him well in this new path and have confidence that he will continue his good work for Israel.

INTERNATIONAL
BOARD OF REFERENCE

As we grow our organisation, we are pleased to announce two members of our International Board of Reference. We have had the pleasure of getting to know Nova Peris OAM OLY and Harry LaForme OC over the past two years and are proud to have such fine leaders join our team. More will be announced in the coming weeks. Read more…

CANADIAN CONNECTIONS

In February, Sheree had the opportunity to participate in a conference in Montreal co-sponsored by Concordia University's Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies, Bar-Ilan University, and the Azrieli Center for Israel Studies at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, in which top international scholars explored “Conceptions of Jewish Indigeneity in Zionist Thought and Politics”. Read more here and here.

In the current toxic atmosphere, the conference was kept confidential. This was deemed necessary given the risk of violence towards Jews in Canada.

The opportunity to engage with experts in Jewish studies and Zionism is a vital step in the goal of strengthening this area of research and study academically.

Dr Trotter will further this work in a speaking tour of the US and Canada in May and June. Thereafter, she will present at the Contemporary Antisemitism 2026 conference in Haifa, convened by the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, of which she is a Fellow. She will also hold a book event in Jerusalem.

If you would like to contribute to this important work, please donate here.

We have developed strong relationships with our Jewish and Indigenous Canadian allies in the past two years, the Canadian Antisemitism and Education Foundation, Allied Voices for Israel and Kanada House, attending the Walk for Israel March in 2024 and 2025. We’re thrilled to be attending again in 2026, and encourage all who able to join us.

Sheree also recently recorded podcasts with Daniel Koren from Toronto based Allied Voices for Israel and Les Kom in Ottawa, who has recently launched the new website, Shalom Canada.

WORK WITH OUR AUSTRALIAN COLLEAGUES

We’re pleased to collaborate with our Australian friends at Minority Impact on an ANZAC series. Part One debunks the lie that Israel desecrated ANZAC war graves in Gaza.

Watch the full reel here.

Upcoming episodes will cover Jewish war veterans, the Māori and Pasifika soldiers who fought in the Middle East during WWI, and other overlooked chapters of this history.

FACE TO FACE ENGAGEMENT

Kanohi Ki Te Kanohi: We are continuing the work within our Indigenous communities. Sheree joined other leaders in speaking at an event at a Marae (traditional Māori meeting house) in Taihape, New Zealand, recently. This was an opportunity for deep engagement and relationship building - korero and whakawhanaungatanga.

In the coming months, Sheree will be meeting with Indigenous and Jewish communities in Hawai’i, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Canada and Israel.

THE KHAZAR THEORY

Among the many falsehoods being promulgated by Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson and others is the Khazar theory. Dr Michael G Wechsler is a linguist, historian and Bible scholar. He spoke at our 2025 Academic Symposium and, while in the Land, filmed this rebuttal of the Khazar theory in Jerusalem's Old City.

COMING UP IN 2026

Upcoming Events to Bookmark:

Walk With Israel, Toronto, 7 June 2026
London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism Conference - University of Haifa - 7 July 2026
“Zionism at the Ends of the Earth: Humanitarianism and Identity”, Book Event, Jerusalem, 8 July 2026
Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem March in the Old City Jerusalem - 6 October 2026
Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem Symposium, Bible Lands Museum, 8 October 2026

DONATE

As we face another challenging year in the battle against false narratives and antisemitism, please consider supporting Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem. We are entirely dependent on the generosity of our supporters. Please consider a monthly donation to this important project.

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