The Amazon Program at Conservation International is working with Indigenous women in their long-standing actions to safeguard their territories and the rich biodiversity in the Amazon. Through their visionary and inspiring actions, Indigenous women are shaping the future of the Amazon.
CI's Amazonia Indigenous Women’s Fellowship, an initiative in seven countries, is celebrating its 4th cohort of leaders. This year, we received over 170 applications from across the region. The selection was guided by national committees, including Conservation International and Indigenous organizations. To ensure an inclusive process, countries collaborated with the Coordinator of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), in Colombia and the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest, in Peru.
In this cohort, 20 women have been selected to lead projects in their communities, designed to conserve natural ecosystems and ensure the collective wellbeing of future generations. Since 2021, the program has supported 115 Indigenous women.
For the fellows, it is critical to implement solutions to address the environmental and social threats in their territories. In this cohort, 8 fellows are working on preserving ancestral knowledge, 4 on promoting environmental solutions for biodiversity protection, 3 on enhancing women's and youth leadership in conservation, and 5 on sustainable production to ensure food sovereignty and economic autonomy.
In celebration of the International Day of Indigenous Women, we present the new generation of Indigenous leaders.
Name: Paola Margarita Chindoy
Country: Colombia (Regional fellow)
Self-identification: Kamëntša
Project: Weave collective actions of care in territorial defense through an intergenerational lens, making visible the struggles of women and youth in Putumayo Colombia and consolidating an Indigenous youth network of the Amazon basin.
Name: Alexandra Wisum
Country: Ecuador
Self-identification: Achuar
Project: Conduct a comprehensive economic empowerment project for women in the community through beekeeping, medicinal plant gardens, nurseries, reforestation and handicrafts.
Name: Mayra Beatriz Moncayo
Country: Ecuador
Self-identification: Shuar
Project: Contribute to the holistic and sustainable management of biodiversity and natural resources in our territories; and mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, to achieve sustainable development for the Shuar nationality of the Pastaza River basin.
Name: Clara Inés Rengifo
Country: Peru
Self-identification: Yagua
Project: Revalue our Indigenous culture, identity and traditions of the Bora, Yaguas, Huitotos and Ocainas peoples from 14 communities in the Ampiyacu basin.
Name: Doris Jimenez
Country: Peru
Self-identification: Murui - muinane
Project: Rescue traditional practices and knowledge of medicinal plant use within the Murui People´s cosmovision.
Name: Gabriela Loaiza Seri
Country: Peru
Self-identification: Machiguenga
Project: Conserve and preserve the magona potato in the Koribeni Native Community.
Name: Lita Ommia Morimo
Country: Peru
Self-identification: Harakbut
Project: Strengthen the entrepreneurial capacities of artisan women, empowering them in the family and community economy.
Name: Valbina Olinda Miguel
Country: Peru
Self-identification: Yanesha
Project: Knowledge Exchanges between wise men and women.
Name: Delfina Orneta Teco
Country: Peru
Self identification: Shipibo Conibo
Project: Recovering our ancestral knowledge.
Name: Maribel Camayteri Sanchez
Country: Peru
Self identification: Asheninka
Project: Train and empower Indigenous women as leaders in environmental conservation, transmitters of traditional knowledge, focusing on the education of children and youth.
Name: Diênita Martins de Lima
Country: Brazil
Self identification: Puyanawa
Project: Recovery and revitalization of ancestral knowledge through handicrafts.
Name: Gemina Brandão Borges
Country: Brazil
Self identification: Shanenawá
Project: Advocacy and defense of our territory with an emphasis on environmental care.
Name: Kassia Anaela Lod Moraes Galibv
Country: Brazil
Self identification: Galibi Kali'na
Project: Recover and revitalize ancestral knowledge through the preservation of language.
Name: Kelliane Cruz
Country: Brazil
Self identification: Wapichana
Project: Creation of a cooperative (sustainable production and food sovereignty).
Name: Panh Ô
Country: Brazil
Self identification: Kayapó
Project: Strengthening traditional food varieties.
Name: Maria Taimal
Country: Colombia
Self identification: Cofán
Project: Foster collective learning about forest harvesting to restore abandoned lands, where years ago foreigners had illicit crops, to ensure a forest harvesting strategy.
Name: Esmeralda Ahue
Country: Colombia
Self identification: Tikuna
Project: Strengthen traditional medical knowledge, through the use and management of medicinal plants ,in communities in the department of Amazonas (Puerto Esperanza, Patrullero, 20 July and Ticoya).
Name: Marva Hawsworth
Country: Guyana
Self identification: Macushi
Project: Macushi Storybooks for Language Preservation.
Name: Jolyn Ann De Olivera
Country: Guyana
Self identification: Macushi
Project: Promote women's empowerment for the creation of a tropical Hummingbird Awareness Haven.
Name: Lidia Vargas Mamani
Country: Bolivia
Self identification: Quechua
Project: Women´s organizational strengthening and improved skills in vicuña management.
