Reclaiming Sovereignty Through Salt and in Spite of Extraction: A Journey to Ayllu Yaribay 

Traveling south of the Bolivian capital La Paz—considered to be the capital city at the highest elevation in the world—the Andean highland plains provide stunning landscapes of verdant, grassy hills in some parts and rocky mountainous outcrops in others. No matter where one finds oneself traveling along these highlands, the backdrop view is ringed by sacred, snow capped mountains in the distance—the mountains of Illimani, Janq’u Qalani, Layqa Qullu, and Mik’aya, among many others.  Read more. 

Aimee Roberson to Join Cultural Survival as New Executive Director

Aimee Roberson will join Cultural Survival as our new executive director on July 1. She will be based out of New Mexico. Aimee is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and a descendant of the Chickasaw Nation. She is passionate about upholding the sovereignty and rights of Indigenous Peoples so that we and our lifeways, cultures, languages, and the ecosystems we steward can flourish. Read more. En español. 

Shuar Arutam Maikiuants Community Is the Last Standing Front of Resistance Against Solaris Resources Mega-Mining Project in Ecuador

Seen from above, the wooden houses of the Maikiuants village are small, brown dots surrounded by a multitude of high and weirdly shaped trees. “We, Shuar Arutam people, preserve the forest. We protect it. That’s why it’s so wild here, so beautiful,” says Ambrocio (Shuar Arutam), a community leader. Read more.

First Indigenous-led Rights of Nature Tribunal Takes Place in North Carolina

In early April 2024, I received an email from my friend and colleague, Dr. Crystal Cavileer (Occaneechi Band of the Saponi), asking if I would serve as a judge on a Rights of Nature Tribunal. The Yesah Tribunal would be a case of the Haw River vs. the Mountain Valley Pipeline, or MVP. I was taken aback by her request, as I did not feel as if I had the qualifications to serve in the capacity of a judge—after all, I have not studied law or passed a bar exam; I only have a bachelor's degree in cultural education and community sustainability. How could I be a judge? Read more. 

ReIndigenizing STEM

Confronting the Lithium Rush: Salinas Grandes in Danger in Salta and Jujuy, Argentina

I am the President of the El Angosto Indigenous community of the Salinas Grandes and Laguna de Guayatayoc basin in the provinces of Salta and Jujuy, Argentina. Salinas Grandes is located at 3200 meters above sea level, at the foot of the Nevado de Chañi, Argentina. We are approximately 7,000 inhabitants of 33 communities scattered over an area of 150 kilometers, with numerous roads connecting us. Read more.  En español. 

Seeing Red

Indigenous Peoples in urban contexts often face unique challenges, including marginalization and lack of recognition of their cultural identity. Sometimes, they are invisible even to other Indigenous organizations and relatives. Urbanization is one of the legacies of colonization that grows and deeply impacts Indigenous Peoples, threatening their very existence. Despite living in cities, they retain distinct social, cultural, and economic practices linked to their Indigenous heritage.  Read more.

Indigenous Youth Fellows and Their Projects on Identities and Experiences in 2SLGBTQ+ communities

This June, in honor of Pride Month, Cultural Survival celebrates the wide range of identities and experiences in Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ communities. Cultural Survival's Indigenous Youth Fellowship Program stands at the forefront of this celebration, recognizing and supporting the unique voices and leadership of Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Through their projects, these fellows are embracing their identities, honoring their cultures, and driving positive change within their communities, creating successes and influence that reach far beyond the confines of Pride Month.  Read more.

Indigenous Youth Fellow Spotlight:

What Are Our Youth Fellows Up To?

Check out what Patricia Sucely Puluc, Gloria Guadalupe Dzb Kumul, and Ninari Chimba Santillán are working on as part of their fellowship projects.  Read more.

Indigenous Community Media Fund Grant Partner Spotlight:

Valasa Bultoo Radio in India

Deep in the heart of India's troubled central region, where Indigenous Peoples, known as Tribal communities, face displacement and hardship due to Maoist conflict, a ray of hope emerges from the airwaves. Valasa Bultoo Radio, a mobile radio project, is giving a voice to these often-ignored groups. With support from Cultural Survival and CGnet Swara, this unique radio station acts as a vital lifeline, spreading information, fostering connection, and empowering these marginalized communities.  Read more. 

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