Indigenous women on the frontlines
Today Climate Action Month recognizes the crucial role that Indigenous women land and water defenders play for the environment and all who depend on it. Women land defenders speak up to defend the air, land and water and do so to protect their rights, the wellbeing of their communities, and fulfil responsibilities to future generations. Despite this crucial role, Indigenous land defenders are facing an alarming rise in reported criminalization, harassment and violence. These threats have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women bear a heavy burden from the impacts of climate change because they are most often the ones responsible for providing water, food and energy for their families and are systematically underrepresented in the control of resources and governance of their communities. Indigenous women bear an even heavier burden from the historic and continuing impacts of colonialism, racism, and inequality. For these same reasons, they are also the ones who can lead in finding effective solutions to the climate crisis. Today we recognize both the achievements of and the challenges facing Indigenous women on the frontlines of climate justice.
TODAY’S RESOURCE
Today’s resources share the voices of Indigenous women on the frontlines of climate justice and protection of the environment:
- Read the KAIROS Trailblazer story about Kanahus Manuel and the Tiny House Warriors.
- Watch the KAIROS Gendered Impacts of Resource Extraction video series.
TODAY’S ACTION
Today’s action is to support Indigenous land defenders – by listening to their experiences and messages, advocating for their rights and safety, and supporting their work on the frontlines for climate justice.
- Join our webinar tonight: On the Frontlines: Indigenous resistance, land defense and climate justice in Ecuador – A Conversation with Ivonne Yanez and Mirian Cisneros
- Learn more about the work of KAIROS partner, Acción Ecológica: https://www.facebook.com/AccionEcologicaEc/
- Support the work of Tiny House Warriors: http://www.tinyhousewarriors.com/
- Support the work of Raven Trust, an organization that supports legal defense for First Nations communities in Canada resisting resource extraction and industrial development in their territories: https://raventrust.com/
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