September 5 is the International Day of Indigenous Women commemorated in honor of Aymara warrior Bartolina Sisa, who in 1780, along with her husband Túpac Katari, led an important part of the Aymara-Quechua rebellion against the exploitation and abuse of Spanish colonizers in Peru.
While too many women all over the world are still affected by violence and rights abuses, it is important to recognize the amazing work Indigenous women are doing to make change happen.
Aimee Roberson (Choctaw and Chickasaw), Cultural Survival Executive Director, says, “On International Indigenous Women’s Day and every day, we honor and celebrate Indigenous women and the important roles they fulfill, including bringing forth life, continually caring for our communities, and keeping our lifeways and languages alive. Indigenous women are also at the forefront of defending our rights and taking up our responsibilities to steward and defend Mother Earth’s lands and waters. We are movement builders and system shakers, working towards a transformative, equitable, and just future for all our relations. Stand with us in solidarity, and join us in honoring, uplifting, and resourcing Indigenous women’s leadership, so that next year we will have even more to celebrate!”
1. Celebrate some of the amazing Indigenous women working to make change happen around the world. Share their inspiring stories! #IndigenousWomenRising #NativeSistersBlossom
|
|
|
Meet CS Youth Fellows Saraí Jiménez Orozco (Mixe), Estefanía Grefa (Kichwa Amazonia), and Florentina Sri Dewi Wulandar (Dayak Simpakng). En español.
|
|
|
CS Youth Fellow Shaylin Salas (CHamoru) speaks about her reflections on attending the largest gathering of Indigenous leaders at the United Nations. En español.
|
|
|
Monica Arawak (Arawak) discusses her work centered on education and the ongoing efforts of her community to secure recognition and protection.
|
|
|
Rhiana Yazzie (Dine/Navajo) playwriter and producer of “Nancy” explores complexities of racial and ethnic identity.
|
|
|
Celia Nichim (Maya Tsotsil) focuses on community empowerment and environmental education through her work with rural beekeepers and advocacy for women’s rights. En español.
|
|
|
Jama Wapichana (Wapichana), is an expert in Indigenous literature and advocate, leading the Wapichana Indigenous Literature and Inclusion Project to revitalize Indigenous languages and cultures.
|
|
|
Raven Lacerte (Carrier), is the co-founder of the non-profit, Moosehide Campaign, working to end violence and raise awareness for the MMIW movement.
|
|
Tia-Alexi Roberts (Narragansett), fancy dancer, Miss Sweetheart America 2024, and Cultural Survival Communications and Editorial Assistant. En español.
|
|
2. Listen and share podcasts by and about Indigenous women.
The Impact of Gold Mining on the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines
Rima Mangili (Ibaloi), Deputy Secretary General of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance Provincial Chapter (KAIBANG), speaks about how Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines have been struggling against large-scale corporate mining that endangers their ancestral lands and resources.
 |
Freedom of the Press Is the Foundation of Justice
Francine Compton (Anishinaabe), Associate Director of the Native American Journalists Association, speaks to Cultural Survival about how press freedom is of major concern to Indigenous journalists.
|
 |
|
Indigenous Women Are Marginalized Globally
Margaret Lokawa (Karimjong) speaks about issues Indigenous women face.
Languages Are Preserved By Growing New Speakers
Holly Helton (Anishinaabe) speaks about the importance of growing new speakers for the survival of Indigenous languages.
The Climate Crisis Affects Indigenous Women Differently
UNPFII expert member Naw Ei Ei Min from Myanmar speaks about how Indigenous women experience climate change.
Día Internacional de la Mujer Indígena
El 5 de septiembre se conmemora el Día Internacional de la Mujer Indígena, en honor a la guerrera Aymara Bartolina Sisa, quien junto a su esposo “Túpac Katari” lideró parte importante de la rebelión Aymara-Quechua, que comenzó en 1,780 contra la explotación y abuso de los colonizadores españoles en el Alto Perú.
Parteras tradicionales Indígenas, hijas de la diosa Ixchel
Escucha una ceremonia en la selva maya donde parteras tradicionales Indígenas reciben bastones de autoridad, organizada por la “Comunidad de Casas de Medicina Tradicional y Partería Indígena en México.”
¡Conoce a Genoveva López, joven radialista!
Genoveva López Velásquez es una joven Indígena que forma parte de la Radio Comunitaria Ji’tontik en Chiapas, México.
¡Conoce a Reyna Ortiz, radialista Indígena!
Reyna Ortiz Montealegre es una mujer Indígena que ha dedicado varios años de su vida a trabajar en la producción radiofónica, actualmente es colaboradora de la radio comunitaria Tachi Ñuu Itia Ta’nu, ubicada en la Montaña de Guerrero, México.
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. Learn about CEDAW’s General Recommendation No. 39 on the Rights of Indigenous Women and Girls
|
|
|
|
On October 26, 2022, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) adopted the long-awaited General Recommendation No. 39 on the Rights of Indigenous Women and Girls. General Recommendation No. 39 includes the first language in a binding international treaty focused on the rights of Indigenous Women and Girls. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
4. Read our issues of the Cultural Survival Quarterly devoted to Indigenous women. |
|
5. Watch our “Securing Indigenous Women’s Rights in the Green Economy” webinar.
|
|
 |
|
Featuring: Galina Angarova (Buryat), Executive Director, SIRGE Coalition; Lesley Muñoz (Colla), Board Member, Plurinational Observatory of Andean Salt Flats (Observatorio Plurinacional de Salares Andinos) OPSAL;
Jannie Staffansson (Saami), Cultural Survival Board Member; Guadalupe García Prado, Director, Observatory of Extractive Industries (Observatorio de Industrias Extractivas); Kate R. Finn (Osage), Executive Director, First Peoples Worldwide. En español.
|
|
Watch our “Safeguarding Indigenous Women’s Rights through Indigenous Community Media” webinar.
|
|
 |
|
Featuring: Rosario Sul Gonzalez (Maya Kachiquel), Gerente del Programa de Radio de Derechos Indígenas; Yeny Paucar Palomino (Aymara), Miembro de Union de Mujeres Aymaras del Abya Yala; Elena Brito (Ixil), Miembro de la Junta Directiva de Radio Comunitaria Tiichajiil Tenam, Adriana Sunun (Maya-Kakchiquel), Miembro de Asociación de Abogados Mayas de Guatemala; Guadalupe Pastrana (Nahua) – Coordinadora del Programa de Radio de Derechos Indígenas. En español.
|
|
Watch our “Indigenous Women: The Strength of Our Communities” webinar.
|
|
 |
|
Featuring: Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (Mbororo), President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT); Tarcila Rivera Zea (Quechua), Founder and Vice-President, Chirapaq; Gertrude Kenyangi (Batwa), Executive Director, Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN), Uganda; and Christa Mancias (Esto’k Gna), Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas Tribal Secretary. En español.
|
|
6. Donate to Cultural Survival!
Today is also International Day of Charity observed annually on September 5 as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, we hope we can count on you! For almost five decades, Cultural Survival has prioritized projects centering Indigenous women and engaging women’s and girls’ leadership. An investment in Cultural Survival is an investment in Indigenous women’s and girls’ leadership globally!
|
|
