Elevating indigenous women's leadership in safeguarding territories

The surge of female empowerment within indigenous lands has contributed not only to fostering economic prosperity but also in countering threats to communities, such as illegal mining. On the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, on August 9, Inimá Krenak, a social scientist and the project director at Fundo Casa Socioambiental, shared with Agência Brasil that in both productive and territorial defense projects ed by the organization, women's leadership is a priority.

"Drawing from our extensive experience, it has become evident that women have emerged as the vanguards of safeguarding their territories while simultaneously driving initiatives centered around economic sustainability and market engagement, always aligned with the protection of their territories. By and large, women typically abstain from activities that run counter to their traditions, such as mining and deforestation," Krenak stated.

She perceives women as very connected to this kind of work that the Fundo Casa s: "Women's commitment extends deeply towards their children, grandchildren, and future generations." For this reason, the organization gives priority to women-led projects.

Projects

Over the last five years, women's leadership has become a criterion of the Fundo Casa in selecting projects to be contemplated. Initiatives encoming advocacy projects (defense and argumentation in favor of a cause), amplifying the presence of indigenous women in policy formulation, and facilitating their involvement in decision-making processes have received . Equipped with resources, these women actively participate in decision-making processes, be it in Brasília for pivotal legal proceedings, advocating for adherence to consultation protocols at the federal capital, or orchestrating engagements with various public entities.

Inimá Krenak, a social scientist and the project director - Attilio Zolin

Krenak emphasizes the gravity of this advocacy work, which unveils the aspirations of women and the communities they represent, regarding the enforcement of their rights. "In essence, these are rights enshrined within our Constitution, yet ones that still await realization by the State," Krenak affirmed.

Across several associations sponsored by Fundo Casa, women have already embarked on the journey of agroecology—nurturing pesticide-free produce that often finds its way into school meals and government initiatives that embrace this sustainable produce. Moreover, they channel their talents into crafting handicrafts that garner attention beyond the confines of their indigenous communities.

To facilitate market integration, is extended for training indigenous individuals in roles vital to the organization's projects, as well as those within their territories, thereby consistently amplifying the role of women.

Between the years 2018 and 2022, Fundo Casa ed 508 projects from 316 indigenous organizations, representing 177 distinct ethnicities among the 305 officially recognized in Brazil. Encoming 13 diverse themes, these projects touched the lives of over 60 thousand individuals, with a cumulative investment exceeding BRL 20 million, equivalent to 38 percent of the Fundo Casa's total donations.

The International Day of Indigenous Peoples was established by the United Nations (UN) in 1995 to express international recognition of indigenous peoples, who still lack basic rights.

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