The Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) joins in the commemoration of the International Day of Indigenous Women, a date that recognizes the struggle, resistance, and dignity of indigenous women throughout history.
On this occasion, CEAMA echoes the voice of Patricia Gualinga, Kichwa leader from Sarayaku (Ecuador) and vice president of the Conference, who emphasizes that this day is a reminder of the women leaders who, since the time of colonization, have resisted oppression and violence.
“There are strong women like Bartolina Sisa who resisted and were brutally murdered. Today, colonization comes in many forms, and women continue to bear the brunt of it. But there are also women who are at the forefront, fighting to protect the territory against new forms of colonization such as extractive industries. We defend life, transmit culture, preserve ancestral knowledge, and make a better world possible,” said Gualinga.
The vice president of CEAMA emphasized that Amazonian indigenous women are a fundamental pillar of resistance, struggle, and the transmission of ancestral knowledge, recalling that this day recognized by the United Nations is a symbol of resilience, dignity, and principles that women have maintained from their territories.
CEAMA, in communion with local churches and Amazonian peoples, reaffirms its commitment to defending life, territories, and the dignity of indigenous women, who are a prophetic voice and living memory in the construction of a Church with an Amazonian and feminine face.