Indigenous women are educators, our planet’s life teachers, holding invaluable knowledge on sustaining the Earth’s ecosystems—from its people, trees, rivers, mountains, and seas. As grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and leaders, they embody how knowledge is a living tradition, continuously passed down through generations. Despite facing marginalization and severe impacts from climate change and patriarchy, Indigenous women lead essential community-based climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Their innovative practices, such as tree planting, seed recovery, and conservation, showcase their profound expertise and resilience. Indigenous women are vital in advocating for education and preserving indigenous knowledge, which is crucial for maintaining the social fabric, local institutions, and territories and nature of their communities.
“It was our ancestors who developed the knowledge and wisdom on growing food near the home. And I want to share this with all, so that people can have clean, healthy, and nutritious food in the home. We are lucky that there is now Indigenous Peoples’ Education, and I hope that the schools will teach the children this very valuable legacy from our ancestors. Just like how my mother taught me, I share this knowledge and practice to the youth.”
Vicky Macay, indigenous Ibaloy elder, farmer and community leader from Barangay Loakan, Baguio City, Philippines.
On September 5th, International Day of Indigenous Women, the Indigenous-led Education (ILED) Network is launching the #IndigenousWomenEducators campaign to celebrate these exceptional stewards of life and highlight their vital contributions. Over the coming month, we will highlight the stories of six extraordinary Indigenous women educators from our network, celebrating their lifelong dedication to preserving Indigenous knowledge, culture, and languages, and their advocacy for climate justice. Their roles as land defenders, activists, and educators underscore their crucial contributions and the transformative impact of their leadership. Continue reading to discover the inspiring achievements of our awardees.
Indigenous Women are Educators: our 6 winners from across the globe
Florina Lopez Miró
Mrs. Florina Lopez Miro, a Guna leader from Panama, has spent over 30 years educating and empowering Indigenous communities, focusing on youth and women. Through training on human rights, leadership, and political participation, she helps defend Indigenous lands and resources. Florina’s work spans local to international levels, addressing biodiversity, climate change, and food security. Her commitment to education strengthens cultural identity, particularly for women and youth, ensuring the preservation of Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity.
Bellu amma
Bellu, a 57-year-old elder from the Irula community in Tamil Nadu, India, is a respected educator and natural historian. Known as “Bellu Amma,” she combines traditional farming with innovative practices like Analog Forestry. As a member of the Women Barefoot Ecologists, she was honored at COP 28 for her work on gender-just climate solutions. Through the Village Elder Program, Bellu teaches local children about their natural heritage, preserving traditional knowledge through storytelling and ensuring it benefits future generations.
Margret Kabahenda
Margret Kabahenda, from Kibasi Parish, Uganda, is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity conservation. With expertise in medicinal plants, she shares her knowledge with younger generations to preserve both traditional medicine and the environment. Through her work with Friends with Environment in Development (FED), Margret organizes community seminars and radio shows to transfer this wisdom from elders to youth. Her commitment to education fosters cultural continuity and ecological awareness, making her a vital resource in her community.
Anestascia García García
Anestacia Garcia Garcia, an 81-year-old elder from the Bribri community in Costa Rica, is a respected cultural educator and spiritual leader. As the last of the Sebliwak clan to hold three traditional roles, she has devoted her life to preserving Bribri heritage. Anestacia teaches the Bribri language, stories, and cultural values, while also overseeing ceremonies and integrating traditional medicine with spirituality. Her dedication ensures the survival of Bribri traditions and empowers future generations, especially women, to carry this legacy forward.
Janaki amma
Janaki Amma, a 60-year-old Alu Kurumba elder from the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, was a revered traditional healer and knowledge bearer. She devoted her life to preserving her community’s ecological wisdom, including medicinal plants, forest ecosystems, and sustainable farming. A single mother of five, she ensured her children were formally educated while staying rooted in their traditions. Though she recently passed away, Janaki’s mentorship of youth and her contributions to indigenous knowledge and forest conservation continue to inspire her community. This recognition honors her lifelong dedication and enduring legacy.
Vicky Mackay
Vicky Macay, a 70-year-old Ibaloy elder from Benguet province, Philippines, is a respected cultural leader and educator. She has passed down Ibaloy traditions to younger generations, including her children and grandchildren. As a leader of the Onjon ne Ivadoy and a member of the Council of Elders for Indigenous Peoples Education, she actively shares her knowledge through interviews, workshops, and books on Ibaloy culture and history. Vicky’s commitment to preserving traditions and advocating for ancestral land rights has a lasting impact on her community.
Image credits: Ompong Tan and Ana Kinja Tauli
So, now what? Why and how should you support?
Not including Indigenous women and their perspectives in our decision-making processes, conversations, social movements, or funding means overlooking some of the planet’s most insightful teachers—women who are driving forces and hold many answers to the world’s most pressing challenges. They are not only living libraries, containing millennia of knowledge about some of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, but they also sustain the communities that carry this knowledge forward. In an era marked by environmental degradation, climate change, and violence, we must learn from these planet’s teachers and recognize the crucial role of Indigenous women as educators.
Today, take action. Continue to learn about and support Indigenous women across the globe. For everyone: follow our Instagram to discover more about the mission and lifelong work of these remarkable women during this month as we launch our campaign: #indigenouswomeneducators.
For funders: support us by prioritizing projects led by Indigenous women and understanding how gender-just climate solutions are essential for combating climate change, empowering communities, and avoiding ineffective solutions.
Happy International Indigenous Women’s Day from the ILED Network!