Indigenous Peoples and local communities celebrate COP15 Deal on Nature, and welcome the opportunity of working together with States to implement the Framework

Following two weeks of often tense negotiations of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), in Montreal, Canada, at COP15, the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) praised the text for its "strong language on respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities." Read more.

UNESCO Officially Launches International Decade of Indigenous Languages

December 13, 2022 was the official launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2023 in Paris, organized by UNESCO. The official launching of the Decade comes with the mandate of having a global call for action and raising awareness about the critical loss of Indigenous languages and the urgent need to preserve, revitalize, and promote Indigenous languages and adopt urgent measures at national and international levels. Read more. En español.

Cultural Survival Denounces Pope’s Racist Rhetoric Against Ethnic Minorities and Indigenous Peoples in Russia

In a recent interview, Pope Francis mentioned Chechens and Buryats as the “cruelest” perpetrators of the war in Ukraine. “When I speak about Ukraine, I speak about the cruelty because I have much information about the cruelty of the troops that come in. Generally, the cruelest are perhaps those who are of Russia but are not of the Russian tradition, such as the Chechens, the Buryati and so on,” the Pope shared in an interview with America The Jesuit Review magazine published on November 28, 2022.  Read more. 
Sign on to our collective statement.

“Green” Energy is Wiping Out Our Desert Water: The Case of Atacama, Chile

Chile is the world's leading producer of copper and the second largest producer of lithium, minerals that are considered essential for the transition to the use of renewable energies and mitigating climate change. These minerals are used for the production of electric cars and other electronic devices, and as the demand for their extraction (with reserves overwhelmingly in Indigenous Peoples' territories) has increased, current extraction methods are violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples and damaging the environment, draining scarce water resources and damaging wetlands. Read more.

Belize Failing to Implement Binding Court Orders to Respect Maya Land Rights

On November 29, 2022, the Caribbean Court of Justice heard arguments in the case Maya Leaders Alliance v The Attorney General of Belize regarding the compliance of the State of Belize with the court’s 2015 decision in favor of Maya land rights. Read more.

Planting Seeds That Bloom into New Np̍oq͗ínišcn Speakers

Amidst the strength and power of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers in the ancestral territories of the Spokane Tribe, there is a group of language warriors with the dream of keeping their languages alive. They run the Language House of Spokane using an immersion strategy to increase the number of fluent adult speakers. Read more.

A Seed’s Journey Begins Before It Is Planted into the Soil: A Story of Traditional-Urban Mayan Farming 

World Soil Day is held annually on December 5 as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. For generations, Indigenous Peoples have shaped landscapes through a reciprocal relationship with the land, thus preserving healthy ecosystems. The connection to the land is mutually tied with Indigenous worldviews. Read more.

Waiting for Justice: Garifuna Community Seeks Answers after Four Members Went Missing Two Years Ago

On Sunday, July 19, 2020, five men, including four Garífuna, were taken at gunpoint from their homes in the community of Triunfo de la Cruz, Honduras, by unidentified men dressed in uniforms belonging to the Honduran Police Investigation Directorate. Read more.

Convocatoria 2023 para proyectos del Fondo de Medios Comunitarios Indígenas

Keepers of the Earth Partner Spotlight:

YIMOM: Mujeres Tsotsiles Sanadoras, Mexico

YIMOM is a network of Maya Tsotsil healer women who live in the community of Nuevo Corral Chꞌen el Ángel, Chiapas, Mexico, and work towards ensuring food security and food sovereignty for their communities by taking care of their soil. Read more. En español.

Indigenous Community Media Fund Partner Spotlight:

Native Federation of Kakataibo Communities (FENACOKA), Peru

Since mid-2021, the project "Strengthening Radio Communication, Organization, and Struggles of the Kakataibo Peoples," has been implemented by the Native Federation of Kakataibo Communities (FENACOKA) with the participation of youth and women. The initiative has allowed participants to improve their communication and social skills and strengthen their sense of identity while empowering women. This project has so far directly benefited 16 Kakataibo youth and women. Read more. En español.

Youth Fellow Spotlight:

ANMIGA: Working to Eliminate Violence Against Indigenous Women in Brazil

Mayra Cortez Calancha (Quechua), 28, is a visual artist, designer, and illustrator from Cusco, Peru. Since she was a child, she was immersed in the world of art, cinema, music, and culture, which allowed her to discover her roots.  Read more. En español.

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