On December 17, 2021, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights announced its decision in the case Indigenous Maya Kaqchikel Peoples of Sumpango vs. Guatemala, declaring the Republic of Guatemala “internationally responsible for the violation of the rights to freedom of expression, equality before the law and participation in cultural life” of Indigenous Peoples.
The U.S. Department of State hosted its 10th annual Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) project competition in 2020.
The Central American Indigenous Community Media Alliance promotes Indigenous people’s voices in the media. The Alliance is composed of three organizations: Cultural Survival; EntreMundos; and the Central American Network of Indigenous Community Radio Stations and represents more than 60 radio stations in the seven Central American countries. Together, the Alliance fosters alternative, independent and Indigenous-controlled media, contributing to building democracies and providing relevant and accurate information to the public.
Cultural Survival, together with the International Indian Treaty Council, is hosting a convening of Indigenous scientists and knowledge holders along with western scientists to discuss climate change, its affects on Indigenous communities' food sovereignty and ways of life, and policy-making at the international level.
On January 11, 2017, the government of Cambodia signed a $1.5-million deal to launch the planning phase of a REDD+ carbon trading project involving Prey Lang forest, the largest remaining lowland evergreen forest on the Indochinese peninsula and home to approximately 200,000 Indigenous people.
On January 20, 2017, while the United States watched the swearing in of one its most controversial and oppressive presidents ever elected, the Maya people of Southern Belize swore in new leadership under their traditional governance system, recognized under both Maya cultural authority and the State of Belize. The alcaldes were elected in a peaceful process by 39 villages. Cultural Survival congratulates the new leaders, including Mr.
After almost a decade of resistance, a cautious victory has been declared for a Maya community in Guatemala in their fight against a Spanish hydroelectric company attempting to install a dam on their sacred river.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.