On International Women’s Day, Patricia Gualinga, vice president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) and renowned indigenous leader of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku (Ecuador), shared a profound reflection on the meaning of being a woman in the Amazon and the fundamental role that women play in defending life, territories, and our Common Home.
For Gualinga, being a woman in the Amazon today means being attentive to the threats facing the Amazonian biome and making an active commitment to its defense. “Being a woman means being a defender, being a mother, daughter, sister, making women’s voices heard, and empowering others so that they can bring out the best in themselves and protect this precious Amazonian territory,” she said.
The indigenous leader emphasizes that the strength of Amazonian women is integral and stems from their deep relationship with the land and the cultures that inhabit the territory. Loving and caring for creation, living with the peoples, and keeping hope alive are part of a spirituality that integrates daily life, community, and nature as a single fabric of life.
Challenges and risks for Amazonian women
However, Gualinga warns that being a woman in the Amazon also means facing risks and multiple forms of violence. Women, especially indigenous women, suffer exclusion because of their gender, because they belong to indigenous peoples, and because they live in territories coveted by extractive industries.
The threats manifest themselves in different ways: domestic violence, political violence, violence within organizations, and attacks on territories. In particular, women who defend the land face direct threats for speaking out against projects that endanger the lives of communities and ecosystems.
Despite these challenges, women continue to be on the front line of defending the territory. Their commitment is expressed through education, community leadership, social and political advocacy, and the direct defense of the spaces that guarantee the life of their peoples.
Spirituality and connection with our Common Home
For Amazonian women, spirituality is deeply linked to nature. Living spirituality means maintaining a living connection with the earth and the sky, respecting life in all its forms, and cultivating relationships of solidarity within communities.
This spiritual vision drives many women to care for and defend the Common Home, recognizing that protecting the territory also means protecting the lives of peoples and future generations.
Recognizing the role of women in the Church
At this time dedicated to recognizing the struggle and contributions of women, Patricia Gualinga highlights the importance of society and the Church fully valuing women’s abilities and leadership.
Women, she says, bring sensitivity, intuition, and a broad perspective that allows them to anticipate challenges and take care of the details that sustain community life. For this reason, she considers it essential that these gifts be recognized and that more and more spaces for participation be opened up.
From her experience as vice president of CEAMA, Gualinga recognizes that the Church is taking important steps toward greater participation by women, although there is still a long way to go.
The dream of a more inclusive Church
The Amazonian leader also shares her dream of a more participatory and less exclusive Church, where the community walks together in the light of the Gospel. A Church that fully recognizes the diversity of its members and values the contribution of women in building a more just and fraternal society.
On this International Women’s Day, her message invites us to recognize the fundamental role that Amazonian women play in defending life, caring for creation, and building paths of hope for the Amazon and for the world.