Photos: Indigenous women leaders participate in a meeting organized by the Network of Solidarity and Indigenous Apostolate of Latin America in September 2023, made possible with support from Canadian Jesuits International (CJI). Photo: RSAI
On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, August 9, Canadian Jesuits International highlights the work of its partners in advancing the right of Indigenous people to self-determination and governance.
The Jesuit-based RSAI Network of Indigenous Solidarity and Apostolate strengthens the leadership of Indigenous women in Latin America who are defending their lands and cultures and caring for an environment reeling from the devastating effects of climate change.
The network helps raise awareness about the exploitation of natural resources in ancestral territories and its impact, especially on women and children in Mesoamerica, the Andes, and the Amazon.
In Chiapas, Mexico, CJI supports the Center for Indigenous Rights (CEDIAC), which promotes conflict resolution based on Indigenous practices of reconciliation and integrity.
The theme of this year’s UN celebration is Protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact.
In his message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the rights of Indigenous people to live in peace and dignity must be upheld. He underscored the role of Indigenous peoples as “keepers of knowledge and traditions,” and as “guardians of the environment.”
Guterres emphasized, “Their survival is our survival.”
