INDIS (Indigenous Sustainable Development) is a collaborative research project (established in 2018 and terminated in 2022) that explored how Indigenous knowledge, values, and leadership can shape more just, inclusive, and sustainable development. Led by researchers from the University of East Anglia it partnered with Indigenous communities and local institutions in Papua New Guinea, Bolivia, and Uganda. Through participatory methods, like community storytelling, workshops, and video, INDIS amplified Indigenous voices and challenged mainstream development models. The project aimed to promote Indigenous self-determination and influence national and international development policy using grounded, culturally relevant approaches. In Papua New Guinea, the INDIS project worked collaboratively with Indigenous communities in the Western Province, particularly around the Ok Tedi mine. Through field visits, community workshops, and participatory methods such as storytelling, photography, and video (including the film From the Horse’s Mouth), the project created space for local voices to shape the conversation around development. It focused on understanding Indigenous perspectives on environmental change, land rights, and the social impacts of mining. A key aspect of the work was its collaborative approach. Researchers partnered closely with local people and institutions to ensure that knowledge flowed in both directions and that community priorities guided the process. Rather than imposing external solutions, the project emphasized mutual learning, respect for Indigenous worldviews, and co-production of knowledge.