our team

Lidia Arriagada-Garcia: founder, president and CEO; Richard Barber: director and secretary; John Scott-Richardson: director.

IFI collaborates with those who share our vision and goals. We welcome volunteers from any part of the world.

Lidia Arriagada-Garcia (she /her) identifies herself as Mapuche. Born and raised in Chile, she is a photographer and artist who obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Painting & Drawing (2009) at San Francisco State University, in California, prior to becoming a U.S. citizen and moving to Lenapehoking, New York City. She has exhibited her photography artworks at international exhibitions in prestigious locations and galleries in New York, London, Prague, and in Venice, Italy.

Lidia's multifaceted career and advocacy for the rights of historically marginalized groups such as Indigenous Peoples, specially indigenous women and girls, led to the founding of the NGO Images for Inclusion Inc (IFI) in 2017. Extensive Engagement with Indigenous Issues: She has spent the last decade deepening her understanding of Indigenous issues globally. As president of this NGO in Consultative Status with ECOSOC, Lidia has made significant interventions at international forums such as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York; the Expert Mechanism on Indigenous Peoples' Rights at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Regional Dialogue of the Americas “Indigenous Peoples and Access to Justice” at the South America Regional Office (OHCHR) in Santiago, Chile, advocating for Indigenous participation and the full respect of their human rights. Climate Change and Biodiversity Advocacy: In 2024 she participated in the COP16 — the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia — to promote the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples' rights and their crucial role in addressing the climate crisis and protecting biodiversity. Organizing International Events: In 2019 she brought a soccer program for indigenous girls called Pink Balls for Girls in Chile, empowering them, promoting gender equality, and encouraging them to follow their dreams. In 2024, she organized a successful International Seminar on Climate Change and Indigenous Science in Chile with special focus on Indigenous women and youth — bringing members of Native American Nations to share their solutions and challenges along with their spirituality. In this way fomenting their rights in the Chilean legal frameworks at a local, regional and international level. In essence, Lidia effectively bridges art and international diplomacy.

John Scott-Richardson is member of the Haliwa-Saponi Nation in north eastern North Carolina. His maternal lineage is Nansemond/Saponi and paternal lineage is Tuscarora. John received his undergraduate BA degree from Atlantic Christian College. He has a professional background in private and public sector business. He has worked with NC Commission of Indian Affairs as a program coordinator, US Federal Census as tribal liaison, NC Museum of History as a educator and cultural presenter. Mr. Richardson currently serves as a board member to the American Indian Community House and Amerinda Indian Arts both in New York City. He has worked to enrich programming for several local, state and national events that includes powwows, cultural workshops, public speaking assemblies in support of indigenous issues such as but not limited to Dakota pipeline, missing and murdered indigenous woman, proper cultural representation in educational programs, business inclusion and diversity and American Indian Child Welfare Act. John's passion for American Indian people and these communities has lead him to recently present at the United Nations. John is also an avid storyteller who is passionate about art forms including acting, music, photography and athletics. He feels that these art forms are one of the keys, along with the correct education, can bridge the gap for Indigenous people as they help toward true self determination while adding value to the larger world. 

Rich Barber holds an AB from Dartmouth in American History, an MA in political science and American History from Columbia University, and taught at Exeter.  He was the co-editor and writer of an industry newsletter "Inside Bookselling."  Prior to this he was with Viking Penguin Inc. where he was initially director of publicity and public relations and developed the marketing campaigns for authors such as Graham Greene and Frederick Forsyth.  Becoming a member of the senior editorial department he acquired and edited books by such authors as Donald E. Westlake and Sally Bedell Smith. He has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and reviewed for the Los Angeles Times and the Hearst papers.   Rich is a past president of The Publishers' Publicity Association, served on the Executive Committee of The Association of American Publishers, was Co-Chair of the National Books Awards, and Director of Public Relations for The National Medal for Literature.  He is the co-author of two books, one on early American history and one book of humor. He is currently president of A. Richard Barber & Associates, a literary agency, and book publishing and marketing consultancy.  Rich is on a committee providing college scholarships in his hometown, Kent, Connecticut, and he is a past board member and Vice President of the Player's Club in NYC.  He also volunteers to help library fundraising.