Who We Are
Founded in 2023 by a collective of Native tradeswomen across the United States, Canada, U.S. territories, and island nations (including Hawaii and Borikén) International Native Women in Trades (INWIT) is a registered, community-based labor organization. Rooted in shared experiences within the building trades and construction industry, we work to recruit and retain Native tradeswomen through resiliency-focused community building, networking, professional development, and peer-to-peer mentorship. Guided by our motto, "Rooted In Culture. Constructing Our Future," we are dedicated to uplifting our women, communities, and tribal nations by advancing workforce development, career development, tribal sovereignty, through advocacy and the lived experiences of our people
“Excluding Indigenous workers, leadership, and organizations from workforce development focused initiatives reduces representation to a performative, tokenizing gesture that actively perpetuates erasure by isolating, siloing, and marginalizing Native voices.” –INWIT on Confronting Systemic Erasure.
Our Mission
International Native Women in Trades (INWIT) is dedicated to recruiting and retaining Native tradeswomen across the United States, Canada, U.S. territories, and island nations. By centering on shared experiences in the construction industry and building trades, we foster resiliency-focused community building, networking, professional development, and peer-to-peer mentorship to ensure our tradeswomen thrive.
Our Vision
We envision strong, thriving tribal nations uplifted through advocacy, policy making, tribal sovereignty, and career growth. Serving as a bridge between industry, community, and opportunity, we center the lived experiences and strength of Native tradeswomen to shape an inclusive industry where our people lead, inspire future generations, and construct sustainable futures.