I wanted to share with you this...

An update from our executive director.
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Greetings Cultural Survival community!

I wanted to take a minute to share with you this message of gratitude we received from one of our partners, the Association of Popular Initiatives Ditsö, where they shared how impactful Cultural Survival's advocacy was in urging Costa Rican officials to respect Indigenous rights and protect Indigenous leaders. They said our actions “helped enormously to generate pressure on the Costa Rican State and to inform various entities about the risks that human rights defenders are facing.”

Indigenous leaders are criminalized, attacked, murdered, and rarely obtain true justice. One year following the death of Bribri land defender Sergio Rojas ([link removed]) , who was killed in his home in Saltire, Costa Rica, the murder remains unsolved. Despite creating a specialized investigative unit, no successful measures to bring justice for this crime have taken place, leaving the criminals in impunity and giving the green light to perpetrators to continue acts of violence against Indigenous people who are peacefully repatriating their titled lands. In February, Jehry Rivera Rivera, another Indigenous human rights defender, was assassinated, and many Indigenous defenders received threats of further violence. Cultural Survival responded by calling on Costa Rican officials to step up protections. Threats have been kept at bay for now.

Today, we forward on this message of thanks to you, who make our work possible: "We want to thank you for your solidarity and support... a dialogue and negotiation channel has been opened between Ditsö and the State of Costa Rica, around the necessary care and protection measures to protect the life and integrity of the people and members of Ditsö and of the Human rights defenders in the country. The Urgent Action sent by you greatly helped to generate pressure on the Costa Rican State and to inform various bodies related to the protection of human rights.”

For over 48 years, Cultural Survival has been supporting Indigenous communities in claiming their rights and in protecting their lands. While enduring this pandemic has been difficult, it has helped humanity remember what really matters: the well-being of our communities and our planet. As we know Indigenous Peoples steward and sustain over 80 percent of the world's biodiversity, so it is imperative that we support Indigenous Peoples' well-being as they are the ones that ensure we have thriving ecosystems, forests and waterways. COVID-19 is impacting all of us, and for Indigenous Peoples we are seeing an unprecedented spike in cases in the global Indigenous community.

At Cultural Survival, we have dedicated the last 48 years to partnering with Indigenous communities across the world to assert their rights in protecting their lands, territories and natural resources. We remain committed to supporting Indigenous Peoples – but we need your support to continue this work. ([link removed])

In many Indigenous cultures, the concept of the next seven generations helps remind us that everything we do is for those to come. We are approaching our 50th anniversary and we call onto you, our trusted community, to help ensure we are around for another 50 years. June 1st is our annual giving day – please join us in celebrating the legacy of Cultural Survival by making an annual donation today!

We deeply appreciate your allyship and your continued support to stand up for Indigenous rights.

In solidarity and gratitude,
Galina Angarova (Buryat)
Executive Director


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P.S. We have produced PSAs on COVID-19 in multiple languages, please share!
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Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience since 1972. We envision a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance.

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Advancing Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Cultures Worldwide, since 1972
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