Indigenous women weaving knowledge for resilience

Powerful indigenous women, guardians of the forests and ancestral knowledge of Africa, Mesoamerica and the Colombian Amazon and Brazil, joined their voices at the event “Indigenous Women: Weaving the climate change agenda towards a sustainable future” to make an urgent call to stop the violence caused by climate change and the destruction of the environment that continues to affect their territories; and demand recognition of their ancestral knowledge as essential contributions to the future of humanity.

Women have ancestral knowledge and the only thing we need is respect. All respect for the land begins with listening, everything happens when you have the opportunity to listen to one another.I want this environmental machismo that is trying to silence the mouths of indigenous women to end completely so that we can cure all biomes and the entire world. – Shirley Krenack, Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB)

This event was organized by the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), the Coordinator of Territorial Women Leaders of the Mesoamerican Alliance of Indigenous Peoples and Forests (AMPB) and the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC); within the framework of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 27).

The panelists were: Sara Omi, Emberá lawyer and President of the Coordinator of Territorial Women Leaders of Mesoamerica  (CMLT) of the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB); Aissatou Oumarou, Deputy Coordinator of the Network of Indigenous and Local Populations for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC); Fany Kuiru, Coordinator of Women, Children and Family of the Coordinator of the Organization of the Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC); and Shirley Krenak of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB).

We are here as indigenous women, representatives of the 5 regions where the last forest masses in the world are protected, to tell you that our Mother Earth is sick and that the care she needs to recover depends on all of us. – Sara Omi, Embera people, President of the Coordinator of Territorial Women Leaders of Mesoamerica (CMLT), Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB).

Context

Indigenous women are guardians of ancestral knowledge about spiritual practices, planting, food and traditional ways of life, which include systems for the protection of forests, water and biodiversity; we are also the ones who are in charge of transmitting this knowledge to the new generations. This environmental work that we carry out every day is for the good not only of our peoples, but of all humanity. However, we are being severely affected by climate change.

Deep droughts, constant floods, increased frequency of hurricanes and storms, and rising sea levels are affecting our territories. As our peoples live in close relationship with Mother Earth and we live from what we sow and harvest; the loss of crops and forests is really serious.

The management of the territory, of the natural resources for us is based on the respect of all the beings that feel. In my culture, the elderly sit every night in the Maloca to talk, every night, with nature; to ask permission for the activities they are going to do the next day. That is our relationship with nature: it is one of mutual respect. Asking permission, singing to the plants because they give us food. There is a permanent dialogue to keep the jungle intact. Mother Earth also feels and reacts. Climate change is happening because we have lived without respect for nature… That is what humanity needs, to listen to nature: she is alive”. – Fany Kuiru, Coordinator of Women, Children and Family, Coordinator of the Organization of the Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC)

Support our cause

 The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (AGTC) is a political platform of indigenous peoples and local communities united to defend Mother Earth for the benefit of the present and future of all humanity. We guarantee our legitimacy and representativeness thanks to democratic processes, which range from the community level to the multinational. Our alliance represents 35 million people who live in forest territories in 24 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We are defenders of more than 958 million hectares of land.