Dear Friend, 

My name is Bia’ni Madsa’ Juárez López. I am an Ayuuk ja’ay (Mixe) and Binnizá (Zapotec) woman from Oaxaca, Mexico. I was born in Oaxaca and grew up in two towns and cultures. Since my childhood, I have been a part of the Indigenous resistance movement in Mexico. 

I started at Cultural Survival in 2017 as Program Associate for the Community Media and Indigenous Rights Radio Programs and have since transitioned into a leadership role as the Keepers of the Earth Fund (KOEF) Program Manager, an Indigenous Led Fund designed to support Indigenous Peoples’ community advocacy and development projects through small grants. I am happy to manage the Keepers of the Earth Fund because it is aligned with my experience and vision to support Indigenous Peoples. I am excited to share that this year, through KOEF, we were able to support 56 Indigenous­-led projects in 17 countries, with a total of $274,858!

The projects supported were developed by Indigenous communities in three core areas: a response to the COVID­19 pandemic in relation to food sovereignty, economy, and community health; Indigenous grassroots solutions to climate change; and relief efforts from the impacts of Iota and Eta hurricanes which struck Central America in November 2020.

As you may know, Indigenous Peoples are the most under-­resourced group to receive philanthropic dollars, receiving less than half of one percent of total foundation dollars. Despite being systemically underfunded, Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous-­led organizations, like us, persevere to provide meaningful on­-the-­ground support to elevate Indigenous Peoples worldwide. 

Our nearly 50-year legacy of advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and supporting Indigenous self-­determination, cultures, and political resilience is thanks to you, our community, who help make our work possible. Join us in shifting the narrative and resources to support Indigenous solutions and leadership to build a better world for us all.

As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2022, we have an ambitious goal ­­to raise $500,000 by June 1, 2022, for our CS50 campaign! We are counting on you for your continued support and commitment to uplifting Indigenous rights.

We recognize that when you make a gift to Cultural Survival, it is an act of solidarity, love, compassion, and activism.

Xquixhepe lii, Thank you for your partnership,

Bia’ni Madsa’ Juárez López (Ayuuk ja’ay and Binnizá)
Keepers of the Earth Fund Program Manager

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.