Indigenous Peoples (IPs) have been on the sidelines of global environmental governance (GEG) even though they are disproportionately affected by climate change. In recent years the importance of IPs participating at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) has been increasing. However, there is a lack of understanding on how this can move from symbolic participation to a leadership role. This study aims to investigate collaborativel eadership in the context of global environmental governance at UNFCCC COP, from a decolonial and Indigenous perspective. This is significant because it addresses the theoretical gap of analysing this phenomenon from a leadership perspective, as well as the empirical gap of centring Indigenous Peoples’ voices in research. Beyond these gaps, this study is timely relevant considering the context of COP30 happening in Belém, Brazil which is predicted to show the largest-ever participation of IPs. This research is grounded in collaborative leadership theory (CLT) and decolonial theories, contrasting Western and Indigenous studies through a two-eyed seeing approach. Empirical research draws from nine semi-structured interviews with IPs and Indigenous Peoples Organisations (IPOs) representatives from eight countries. Findings reveal that, firstly, IPs and IPO representatives’ perception of current leadership and collaboration at COP diverges from their expectations, which are toward an equal, shared-power, respectful and collective approach. Secondly, their understanding of collaborative leadership closely aligns with CLT principles but emphasises elements such as building trust through actions, inter-relationships relevance, and nature as part of collaboration. Lastly, this study proposes decolonial-collaborative leadership principles to guide on how IPs and Western actors can effectively share leadership at UNFCCC COP. By providing an Indigenous and decolonial understanding of collaborative leadership in GEG, this study suggests that UNFCCC actors must acknowledge present coloniality and pursue structural change to reimagine COP as a collaborative leadership space.