Video by Michelle Gachet and Morelia Mendúa | Text by Erika Castillo
Indigenous women are indispensable in the fight for conservation. Their voice and ancestral wisdom position them as guardians of their territories and protectors of their communities and the world at large.
In the Amazon rainforest, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, this fight has been a collaborative effort. For decades, women have been leaders at the forefront of territorial defense, implementing strategies that are intertwined with the well-being of the forest. These strategies range from the preservation of their culture to the creation of new models of sustainable practice that challenge the extractive sector.
A prominent example of empowerment and development along these lines is the Women’s School of Leadership and Entrepreneurship. The school, developed in collaboration with the Ceibo Alliance and Amazon Frontlines, works with members of Indigenous communities to strengthen their capacity for entrepreneurship and to provide them with leadership tools. Opened in April 2023, this school has provided women of the Siekopai, A’I Cofán, and Siona nations with opportunities to demonstrate how they can become agents of change in their communities by recognizing their importance for territorial defense and community governance. Women’s participation in decision-making is strengthened, making them a crucial force in the fight against environmental destruction.
“As women, we have different ideas and we must continue with efforts to help our communities. By supporting each other, we can move forward and transmit to our children the importance of caring for our territory. Since I became part of the Indigenous guard and started my own business, I feel like a different woman. I am proud to be a woman who fights and will continue to fight for her territory. I am proud to pass on our teachings to the children so that our culture and the knowledge of our elders will not be lost.” – Erika Narvaez, from the A’I Cofán community of Sinangoe.
Indigenous women have been guardians and defenders of the land long before environmental awareness became a global priority. Strengthening their autonomy through traditional and ancestral practices is fundamental for the survival of their cultures.
This September 5, which marks Indigenous Women’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to their struggle. We join our voice with theirs so that they can continue to weave stories of resistance intertwined with the defense of their territories.
