On Friday, May 16, 2014, INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS WOMEN’S FORUM (FORO INTERNACIONAL DE MUJERES INDÍGENAS--FIMI) honored two indigenous women with FIMI Leadership Award. In a warm and memorable ceremony, Joan Carling and Rosalina Tuyuc received this unique recognition to their longstanding commitment, passion and leadership in the struggle for indigenous women’s rights.
FIMI Leadership Award
Within the frame of FIMI’s ‘Global Leadership School of Indigenous Women’ (GLS) FIMI honored two indigenous women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and who have made a meaningful impact on their communities, countries and at international level defending their own rights. FIMI wants to celebrate indigenous women who have implemented creative ways to address pressing social issues, demonstrating courage, creativity and vision.
Joan Carling, indigenous woman from Asia, and Rosalina Tuyuc, indigenous woman from Latin America received FIMI Leadership Award in a warm atmosphere at Columbia University. After welcoming words by Yasmine Ergas, Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University and a Spiritual Prayer by Theresa John, Yupik indigenous woman from Alaska, Mrs. Elsa Stamatoupoulou, Director, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Program, ISHR and Mrs. Otilia Lux de Coti, FIMI’s Executive Director provided and introduction on the Award, its mission and its relevance.
The awards were announced by Tarcila Rivera Zea and Vicky Tauli Corpuz, indigenous women leaders and FIMI Board members in the struggle for indigenous women’s rigths in each of the awardees region and globally.
After an honoring performance, the ceremony ended with a toast and an auction of indigenous women’s handicrafts provided by each of the Global Leadership School participants.
The Awardees:
JOAN CARLING
Joan Carling is an indigenous activist from the Cordillera, Philippines. She has been working on indigenous issues at the grassroots to international levels for more than 20 years. Her field of expertise includes human rights, sustainable development, environment, and climate change, as well as on the principles and application of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). She has been also been actively engaging in international bodies, processes and mechanisms such as with International Financial Institutions, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), REDD+ related mechanisms, UN agencies, and mechanisms relating to human rights and sustainable development in advancing the issues and concerns of indigenous peoples in Asia.
Joan has been elected twice as the Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), starting in 2008 and has been representing AIPP’s 47 member-organizations in 14 countries. Ms. Carling also wrote and edited several AIPP publications and materials relating to human rights, climate change and REDD+, sustainable development, indigenous women among other. Joan was appointed by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as an indigenous expert- member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFii) for 2014-16.Joan Carling is an exemplary model of an indigenous activist who has and continues to dedicate her life to the cause of indigenous peoples, first in the Philippines, Asia and now the whole world. She sets a good example for the young activists to follow.
ROSALINA TUYUC
Rosalina Tuyuc was born in San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala on October 14, 1956 . She belongs to Kakchiquel Maya indigenous people. She is a nurse by profession and indigenous leader from an early age, as the president of the Young Christian Workers Women of San Juan Comalapa. She was one of the founders of the National Coordination of Widows of Guatemala, CONAVIGUA , and from 1988 to 2010 she served as General Coordinator .
Rosalina actively participated in the Continental Encounter "500 Years of Indigenous and Popular Resistance , Black and " held in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala . Moreover, she Rosalina had a key role in the peace processes of Guatemala . From 1989 to 1992, Rosalina served as President and Rapporteur of the Commission on Victims of Violence. In 2004 , she was Member of the National Commission on Peace Accords and appointed President of the National Reparations Commission .From 1993 to 1995 she was a member of the International Committee Pro -Decade for Indigenous Peoples of the World held in Guatemala .
Throughout the years, Rosalina has founded and actively participated in the establishment of several indigenous organizations and coordinators at local and national level . In 2001 , she was a founding member of the Political Association of Maya Women in Guatemala, MOLOJ . Rosalina has held several public offices she was Congresswoman , Block Chief Deputies, elected Judge in the First Court of Conscience of Women of Guatemala , among other. She was also a Board member in the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala .She has received various awards including Niwano Award.
Rosalina is has 5 children and 4 grandchildren. Throughout her life she has trained generations indigenous youth; she is an exemplary teacher and spiritual guide.
Rosalina Tuyuc is a defender of human rights of indigenous peoples and has always included indigenous youth. She is a strong leader, supported by grassroots organizations. Rosalina, an indigenous woman leader is worth a recognition for her leadership and continuous struggle.
FIMI LEADERSHIP AWARD
FIMI Leadership Award was conceived to recognize and celebrate the important contributions made by indigenous women throughout the world.
FIMI wants to celebrate indigenous women who have implemented creative ways to address pressing social issues, demonstrating courage, creativity and vision.
In 2014, for the second time, FIMI honors two indigenous women, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and who have made a meaningful impact in their communities, countries or at the international level defending their own rights.
Selection Criteria
The nomination for individual indigenous women is guided by the following criteria:
• SIGNIFICANCE
• EFFECTIVENESS
• CREATIVITY
• INCLUSIVENESS
• SPIRITUALITY
