The Palenquera language is one of the most emblematic cultural expressions of San Basilio de Palenque, a living testimony to the resilience and identity of its people. However, like many minority languages, it faces the threat of extinction due to the influence of Spanish, globalization, and sociocultural changes. In this context, youth participation has been…
The Palenquera language is one of the most emblematic cultural expressions of San Basilio de Palenque, a living testimony to the resilience and identity of its people. However, like many minority languages, it faces the threat of extinction due to the influence of Spanish, globalization, and sociocultural changes. In this context, youth participation has been…
We spoke with Irma Pineda Santiago, a Zapotec from Juchitán, Mexico, who speaks Diidxazá and is the Latin American representative for the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. She talks about the effects of the pandemic on Indigenous populations, the recovery of ancestral knowledge—and its practice, in the midst of the pandemic—and the resilience of…
There is the old adage of the elegant deer—perhaps white-tailed, perhaps antlered—who the scientist kills for study, to hold the crimson heart, to peel back eyelids and see the earth reflected in orbs of night. Once dead, gone. No more spirited flight, deft movement, dainty leaps through tall grass, lightness alert. This metaphor is not…
Ideas to adapt our cultural practices and love our people in new ways Native people have cared for one another through greetings, food, dance, ceremony, and much more. These cultural practices have sustained our people through many hardships and joyful moments. We value and care about our families and communities and have always adapted to…
One of the primary sources of ancestral knowledge, treasured by humanity, is herbal medicine. Traditional indigenous medicine has its main foundation in the learning and millennial teaching of the healing power of nature, mastery in the use of infusions, poultices, mixtures , and remedies created with various plants, barks, leaves, roots, petals, juices, that applied…
Paraguay is mostly a mestizo country: 97% of the population speak and understand Guaraní and Spanish, their two official languages. The strong linguistic presence of the Guaraní indigenous language (it is the only country on the continent that is bilingual in a native language) is not enough for it to consider itself an indigenous country.…
How to survive discrimination and bring life in the midst of the pandemic SOURCE: Presentes Agency Photos: Josean Rivera/Archivo Presentes A round of applause surprised her completely. They could be heard outside their house, but they sounded very close. Claudia Ancapán Quilape did not expect it, but those of the night of April 7 were…
With the COVID-19 crisis, the Ecuadorian nation state, like many other failed states, panicked and its reactions were late, with omissions and negligence towards its civilian population. For example, two months ago, salaries to state workers were suspended , but they have not stopped paying the foreign debt, nor have they suspended oil and mining…
In an unprecedented demonstration of unity, Native nations and tribes across the United States are taking measures to prevent the US government from misappropriating funds meant for COVID-19 emergency relief. Six tribal governments from Washington state, Maine, and Alaska teamed up in a lawsuit against the US Department of Treasury to prevent losing the $8…