Felipe Gomez: strengthening culture to defend collective rights and sacred sites in Guatemala
Felipe Gomez is a Mayan spiritual leader, who studied theology and has good understanding of different religions and worldviews that he uses to unite and empower traditional and spiritual leaders in communities across different cultures and linguistic barriers. Besides his … Read more
Norman Jiwan: indigenous activist to control palm oil expansion in Indonesia
Norman Jiwan, a Kerambai Dayak from West Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) is an NGO activist who works for the Indonesian NGO, SawitWatch, a watchdog group that tracks the palm oil industry in the region.
He acts as director of the research … Read more
Arjun Singh Nag: tribal lawyer defending the adivasi, customary law and nature (India)
Arjun Singh Nag, known as Nag-ji, is one of the first tribal lawyers of Bastar district in Central India. Nag ji hails from Jaitgiri, a small tribal village in Bastar; Bastar is a predominantly forested area and home to a … Read more
The Popular Committee of Bil’in : a peaceful exemplary struggle against “the wall” in Palestine
Bil’in is a Palestinian village that wants to continue to live… and because of that it has been fighting g hard to save its land, its olive trees, its resources and its freedom. By building its “separation wall”, the state … Read more
The Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartado: confronting violence with unity and solidarity in Colombia
The Colombian government claims that the Urabá region is pacified… but the only peace that people speak about in the region is the peace of the graves, the peace of those who remain silent for fear of guns and intimidation…… Read more
Dam Chanty: courageous organiser of indigenous peoples in Ratanakiri province (Cambodia)
Ms. Dam Chanty is an indigenous Tampuen/Lao with a long history of working to strengthen the rights of indigenous peoples in Ratanakiri Province and Cambodia. Chanty is 53 years old and has 6 children and 3 grandchildren and is fluent … Read more
Maanda Ngoitiko: a land and gender activist among the Maasai of Loliondo (Tanzania)
Maanda Ngoitiko is an indigenous Maasai woman from Soit Sambu village in Loliondo Division, Ngorongoro District, northern Tanzania. She got her start in community development and advocacy working for one of the first pastoralist NGOs in Tanzania, the Korongoro Integrated … Read more
Taita Jose Becerra and Dr. Germán Zuluaga Ramirez: culture-based healing in the Amazon region of Colombia
The Taita Jose Becerra, heir to an ancient Indian medical tradition of the Yage culture, has served his community for decades through quiet healing service and advice. He has also participated in meetings with other Indian doctors and accompanied the … Read more
Dave de Vera: innovative and successful action for indigenous peoples to regain rights to land and natural resources in the Philippines
Dave was chosen for his continuing, innovative and successful action supporting the indigenous peoples of the Philippines to regain their rights to land and natural resources.
With great humanity, personal engagement and sense of humour, Dave has worked for decades … Read more
Hernan Rosa Martinez: solidarity at the heart of all successful community development in Ecuador
After studying philosophy, theology, sociology and anthropology, Hernán Rodas engaged as a priest in the movement of liberation theology. Listening to the poor, he was one of the main members of the team that re-translated the Bible from the perspective … Read more
