In the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, the voices of Indigenous women and allied jurists rang out in defense of life, justice, and the forest. From June 26 to 28, the Kichwa community of Sarayaku hosted the First Gathering of Women Jurists Defending the Amazon and Indigenous Defenders of the Rainforest, a powerful convening rooted in ancestral wisdom and bold resistance.

At a time when extractive industries continue to threaten the survival of Indigenous territories, women from across Amazonian nations gathered to share strategies, raise their voices, and reaffirm their collective commitment to protecting nature and the rights of their peoples.

“We are defenders of the rainforest. We bring life. We are the core of life. We walk the territory and leave our mark,” said one participant during the opening ceremony.

A Gathering of Strength, Solidarity, and Strategy

Over three days, women leaders, jurists, and land defenders from multiple Amazonian nationalities came together—some as legal experts, others as traditional knowledge keepers, all as protectors of life. The gathering became a space of deep dialogue, cultural exchange, and mutual support.

Workshops and discussions centered on:

• Challenging structural machismo that persists within communities and institutions
  
  
• Building Indigenous-led legal strategies to resist extractivism and uphold collective rights
  
  
• Ensuring meaningful participation in decision-making at local, national, and international levels
  
  
• Strengthening networks of communication to amplify the voices of women from the territories to the global stage
  
  

Despite coming from different regions and realities, participants shared a common truth: without unity, there can be no transformation. It is urgent to make visible the imbalance of power that women face in political and social spaces.

Centering the Wisdom of Women

This historic gathering marked a new milestone in the movement for climate justice and Indigenous rights, placing the leadership of Indigenous women at the forefront.

Rooted in sacred relationships with the land, ancestors, and future generations, Indigenous women embody a holistic understanding of care, responsibility, and balance. From this deep place of connection, new models of justice and governance are being envisioned—ones that center life, reciprocity, and collective well-being.

Fundación Pachamama honors the essential role Indigenous women play in holding together the social, spiritual, and ecological fabric of the Amazon, and affirms their leadership as vital to the future of the planet.

A Call for Global Solidarity

The stories shared in Sarayaku echo far beyond the rainforest. They call on all of us—wherever we are—to stand in solidarity with those on the frontlines of environmental defense, and to support Indigenous women as they lead the way toward a more just and life-affirming future.

At Pachamama Alliance and Fundación Pachamama, we celebrate this convergence of voices, visions, and wisdom. May it continue to ripple outward, nourishing movements for planetary healing. 

"We are the strength of the mountains, of the rivers, and of the women who care for the Earth," shared an Indigenous women participant.