Community Voices
Africa
Women-led community assemblies explore how to overcome the legacy of colonial conservation in Africa
“As women we realised that we are the custodians of the land.” - Rachael Malka Mpeletian, Yaaku Community Member
Get a glimpse of the first of a series of women-led community-to-community assemblies in East Africa, hosted by the Ogiek people of Mount Elgon in Kenya, where communities discussed how to put an end to indigenous land appropriation.
Indigenous women in Cameroon showcasing strength and leadership
“The situation was so bad for the Baka that something had to be done.” - Helen Ayie Mondo, Baka women leader
Find out what indigenous Baka women in Cameroon are doing to safeguard their livelihoods, secure their territories, and develop their leadership skills, despite multiple barriers to their participation in decision-making on their lands.
Indigenous women raising their voice through song
“Being Sengwer is almost synonymous with our indigenous songs and dances.” - Milka Chepkorir, Senger woman leader
Learn about how songs are used by indigenous women, including the Sengwer of Kenya, to tell stories of their land, their struggles, their culture and celebrations, in a way of preserving identity and knowledge.
South and Central America
Black communities in Colombia resist the impacts of the sugarcane industry
“When you lose control of the territory, you lose everything.” - Afro-descendant leader, Northern Cauca, Colombia
Discover how Black communities of Northern Cauca are struggling to preserve their knowledge and ancestral farming practices in the face of the “green monster” – how the afro-descendant communities refer to sugarcane plantations encroaching on their lands.
Indigenous peoples in Guyana facing destructive gold mining in their territory
“The collective and peaceful fabric of our society has been utterly disrupted by mining.” - Toshao Tony James, Wapichan Elder
Hear from Wapichan elders and youth on their efforts to gain collective land titling to protect their rainforest, rivers and creeks from the devastating impacts of gold mining in the Marudi mountain area.
Women leaders in Peru restoring cultural identity and building resilience
“We will continue to participate until we are heard.” - Marisol García Apagüeño, President of FEPIKECHA, Peru
Hear from Marisol García Apagüeño as she talks about her work strengthening indigenous women leadership in her community, despite the barriers that stand in their way.
Asia and the Pacific
Indigenous community in Indonesia at risk from huge infrastructure project
“You kill our culture when you kill our trees.” - Inui Yeq, Member of the Daya Bahau Busaang
Hear from members of the Long Isun community explain how a road project would completely dissect their territory and open it up to palm oil cultivation, without the consent of the communities.
Indigenous people in Indonesian Borneo facing palm oil shadow companies
“We are watching our homeland get destroyed by the companies.” - Fransiskan Tahunan, Head of Babanas village deliberation forum
Follow an investigation by Dayak Agabag communities and indigenous organisations into a certified palm oil conglomerate, whose subsidiaries, or ‘shadow companies,’ are producing ‘sustainable’ palm oil despite the land conflicts and rights violations they create in communities.
Indigenous leaders sharing views from the ground on commodity certification, human rights and deforestation
“Companies only do things on paper, without genuinely seeking to fulfil their membership obligations.” - Norman Jiwan, Dayak indigenous leader
Hear from Norman Jiwan, a Dayak indigenous leader from Borneo, West Kalimantan, Indonesia as he shares different experiences with palm oil certification – positive and negative – and gives suggestions on how it could be improved for the benefit of indigenous peoples on the ground.