Indigenous women lead fight to protect water, biodiversity and ancestral knowledge across latin america

Indigenous women across Latin America are emerging as powerful environmental guardians, leading efforts to protect water sources, preserve biodiversity, and defend ancestral knowledge that has sustained their communities for generations. These leaders are not only maintaining traditional ecological practices but also actively engaging in political processes to ensure their voices are heard in decisions affecting their territories.

“Our fight is collective and our resistance is ancestral. Let’s continue sowing resistance, sowing identity,” says Ketty Marcelo, president of the National Organization of Indigenous Andean and Amazonian Women of Peru (ONAMIAP). Marcelo emphasizes how the legacy of female ancestors serves as both inspiration and guidance for contemporary Indigenous women facing structural racism, violence, and environmental threats while working to secure economic justice and strengthen cultural identity for future generations.

In Peru’s Indigenous territories, this environmental stewardship takes on profound spiritual dimensions. Each water spring carries a sacred name and represents a symbol of resistance, with women serving as the primary guardians of these vital resources. Through traditional healing rituals, elders communicate with the water while community members participate in ceremonies that formally recognize and protect each source. This practice demonstrates how Indigenous women combine spiritual traditions with practical conservation efforts.

The initiatives highlighted by women leaders from Peru, Mexico, and Colombia showcase innovative approaches to environmental protection that integrate traditional knowledge with modern advocacy. As the world celebrated International Day of Indigenous Women on September 5th—a day established in 1983 to recognize Indigenous women’s achievements and ongoing challenges—these leaders continue building pathways toward sustainable futures for their communities and the planet.