Before the advent of modern Western medicine established its definitive standards for health, well-being, and healing, Indigenous Peoples across the globe had already cultivated sophisticated systems of care. These ancestral practices, honed over generations through attentive observation and deep ecological knowledge, identified, treated, and alleviated illnesses. Rooted in a profound connection to the land and a commitment to communal well-being, these traditions prioritized collective ceremonies and maintained intricate relationships within communities. Recognizing the vital importance of preserving and transmitting this invaluable heritage, Cultural Survival’s Indigenous Youth Fellowship Program has empowered three young Indigenous women to lead initiatives that are rekindling pathways once trodden by their maternal ancestors. Hailing from the Muisca communities of Colombia, the Ngäbe people of Costa Rica, and the Kichwa Otavalo of Ecuador, these fellows are spearheading efforts to reintegrate traditional knowledge concerning midwifery, menstruation, herbalism, and the holistic understanding of womanhood, making these vital lifeways accessible once more to their respective communities.
The Muisca Initiative: Reclaiming Women’s Medicine in Colombia
Gabriella Garibello Daza, a proud member of the Muisca tribe from the territory historically known as Mhuykytá, now recognized as Bogotá, Colombia, is a 2025 Youth Fellow spearheading a crucial revival of ancestral Muisca medicine and midwifery. Her academic pursuits in literature at Javeriana University in Bogotá, coupled with her co-founding of the Indigenous collective Tinzi (meaning "to bloom") and her leadership in the Bosa Native Language Revitalization Program, have provided a strong foundation for her community-centered work. These experiences have consistently guided her efforts to facilitate discussions on cultural identity, health, oral traditions, and Indigenous education. Currently, Gabriella is immersed in an apprenticeship, deepening her understanding and practice of Muisca ancestral medicine and midwifery.
Through the Cultural Survival Indigenous Youth Fellowship program, Gabriella, with the dedicated support of co-coordinators Erika Samantha Galeano, Wendy Lorena Díaz Pachón, and Deina Catherine Tovar, established a vital space for the preservation of knowledge in women’s medicine, traditional midwifery, and herbalism from a Muisca perspective. This initiative, named "Escuela de Formación en Medicina Natural de Mujer y Partería Tradicional Muisca" (School of Training in Natural Medicine for Women and Traditional Muisca Midwifery), draws inspiration from a pre-existing educational framework. The project powerfully illustrates the significance of reintegrating Indigenous identities through robust community building and the dynamic exchange of information.
The core mission of this school was to center and engage Muisca women through preventative care, thereby contributing to their holistic well-being – encompassing their physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Gabriella Daza observes a common reality within her community: "Women in these communities are usually caring for others, but they don’t often have the time to care for themselves." This profound insight underscored the urgency and necessity of the project.
Over an intensive eight-month period, twenty participants from four distinct Muisca communities convened monthly for knowledge transfer sessions. The program was meticulously structured into four thematic "spirals": Tasqua ("thought"), Quyca ("territory"), Puyky ("heart"), and Sie ("water"). These spirals guided eight respective and immersive capacity-building workshops. Within each spiral, diverse facets of Muisca ancestral knowledge were integrated. Topics explored included traditional weaving techniques, the profound connection between menstruation and lunar cycles, womb care practices, traditional massage therapies, therapeutic baths and steams, and the extensive applications of herbalism. These hands-on workshops provided participants with practical skills and a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage.
At the conclusion of the project, Gabriella shared a transformative realization: she is more than capable of holding and nurturing spaces for the communities that have historically supported her. This newfound confidence has ignited a stronger commitment to creating spaces for women, by women, recognizing that such connections are not solely for learning and strengthening but are also powerful conduits for healing. Within this intergenerational transmission of knowledge, the women participating in the Muisca communities are acting as true pioneers. "The path of a leader is in company and not individually," Gabriella emphasizes. "It’s not about one person leading everything, it’s a shared responsibility." This collaborative spirit is foundational to the sustainable revitalization of Muisca traditions.
Bridging Cultures: Ngäbe Maternal Health and Rights in Costa Rica
Thalía Jiménez Tomás, a 2025 Youth Fellow, is a distinguished Ngäbe Indigenous woman from the Limón province of Costa Rica. She is a co-founder of the Meri Derikë Ngäbe Association, which translates to Ngäbe Women Leaders of Sixaola, and holds a degree in Local Management for Indigenous Peoples from the National Distance Education University (UNED). Her advocacy has had a significant impact on legal frameworks; in 2018, she was instrumental in the creation of Law Number 9710, which formally recognizes the identities of Indigenous and Tribal peoples and establishes protective procedures safeguarding their existence. In recognition of her extensive work with the Indigenous Women’s Organization and her tireless promotion of the rights of the Ngäbe people, Thalía was awarded the 2024 European Union’s Gender Equality award, a testament to her leadership and dedication.
The objective of Thalía’s project, titled "Meritre krëgae Dean nain, migatrë gare monsotre ngäbere" (Maternal Health as a Vision in Ngäbe Youth), was to facilitate the recovery and integration of intercultural maternal health knowledge. This initiative sought to create a dialogue between Ngäbe traditional midwives, women, youth, and State-sanctioned healthcare providers, aiming to bridge the gaps and foster mutual understanding.
Ngäbe women frequently encounter significant challenges in accessing medical care, primarily due to the considerable distances and travel required to reach healthcare facilities. Furthermore, when Ngäbe women seek medical attention, particularly for childbirth, they often face a formidable language barrier. This communication breakdown can lead to a critical situation where they may consent to treatments that are not aligned with their Indigenous cosmologies or that they simply do not fully comprehend. While legislation exists to prevent such occurrences, communities may not always be fully aware of their rights or the legal protections available. A common consequence of these systemic issues is that mothers often give birth at home. Subsequently, when attempting to enroll their children in school, they encounter the obstacle of not possessing a birth certificate. The State lacks official documentation confirming the child’s residence within Ngäbe communities or their citizenship status in Costa Rica. These lived experiences underscore the profound need for the project Thalía initiated.
Thalía’s impactful work directly benefited over 40 women across four Ngäbe communities. Participants gained access to invaluable knowledge exchange sessions and received guidance on medicinal herbs. Crucially, they engaged in direct dialogue with health officials, including obstetricians, where they were empowered to advocate for their specific needs and to learn information that was grounded in their own cosmology. The positive reception and effectiveness of the project were so significant that the University of Costa Rica extended an invitation to conduct a workshop, recognizing the innovative and culturally sensitive approach employed.
For Thalía, undertaking this project for her community, in partnership with Cultural Survival, was a profound honor. "These borders were placed by the States, yet the connections women had amongst themselves already existed," she reflects. Inspired by the tangible results of her project, Thalía remains a fierce advocate, actively working to secure a State-recognized territory where the Ngäbe people can reside and establish a permanent home. She highlights a critical concern: living outside of a defined Indigenous territory can lead to the gradual disintegration of Indigenous identities and the erosion of ancestral practices. To ensure that future generations do not forget their origins and their inherent identity, Thalía continues this vital battle alongside her community, demonstrating unwavering resilience and commitment.
Preserving Kichwa Otavalo Heritage: Documenting Wisdom for Future Generations
Cenia Kaina Córdova Pichamba, a 2025 Youth Fellow, is a Kichwa Otavalo woman hailing from Peguche, Imbabura, Ecuador. She holds a degree in Arts and Humanities and has furthered her education in Anthropology, research methodologies, and cultural heritage studies. Her community, Doctor Miguel Egas Cabezas Peguche, is comprised of numerous Indigenous communities. The region’s historical significance as a hub for textile workshops often leads to its perception through an archaeological lens, as a relic of the past. Elders within the community have voiced deep concerns regarding the potential loss of cultural identity. While the enthusiasm of the youth offers a beacon of hope, culturally significant customs are nonetheless at risk of being forgotten.
Among these endangered traditions is the practice of childbirth. Locating experienced midwives has become increasingly challenging due to factors such as advanced age, language barriers, memory loss among elders, and a notable absence of archival documentation of ancestral knowledge. Confronted with these significant obstacles, Cenia’s project was intentionally designed to address these issues and create a lasting, positive impact within her community. "Named Yuyaykuna, which means ‘knowledge’ in Kichwa," Cenia explains, "it is an initiative to compile and recognize Indigenous science and knowledge." The core objective of Yuyaykuna is to assert Indigenous knowledge not merely as folklore, but as an integral and vital component of everyday life.
To execute this ambitious undertaking, the project placed a strong emphasis on systematic record-keeping. This involved meticulously documenting and collecting oral histories through in-depth interviews with midwives from the Kichwa community. Photographic records were diligently maintained to visually support these oral accounts, alongside the creation of evocative portraits of the midwives and the medicinal plants they utilize. Through carefully curated photography, Yuyaykuna aims to dismantle harmful stereotypes often associated with Indigenous figures, thereby initiating a dialogue about the profound impact of recognizing one’s identity and how it can be actively constructed and celebrated.
Following the comprehensive documentation phase, Cenia organized a significant gathering of ten midwives. This meeting served as a platform for the exchange of information, constructive critique, and the sharing of feedback. The midwives found reinforcement and solidarity in their shared experiences and collective wisdom. Presentations were delivered by both traditional midwives and a medical obstetrician, exploring pathways to bridge the gap between ancestral customs and contemporary medical practices. Following the presentations, attendees were treated to a communal meal prepared using traditional Kichwa recipes, fostering a sense of shared heritage and community. All participants received certificates recognizing their completion of the training and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Despite the fact that the midwives attending this gathering reside in the same city, they often come from diverse cultural backgrounds and practice distinct traditions. Nevertheless, the project successfully achieved its goal of fostering a supportive and collaborative network among Indigenous Kichwa women and midwives, transcending individual differences to build collective strength.
With all the data meticulously collected throughout Cenia’s project, a photobook is currently being compiled to safeguard this invaluable ancestral knowledge. By utilizing visual documentation, Cenia offers this powerful form of Indigenous wisdom as a means to resist the homogenizing forces of globalization, which often threaten to erase unique Kichwa histories and distinct ways of knowing. By disseminating the rich contents of this project throughout the community, Cenia aspires to ensure the longevity of her traditional customs and to create tangible tools that enhance the enduring vitality of her cultural identity.
Broader Implications and Future Directions
The initiatives undertaken by Gabriella, Thalía, and Cenia, supported by Cultural Survival, represent a critical movement in reclaiming and revitalizing Indigenous knowledge systems. In a world increasingly dominated by globalized, often Western-centric, medical paradigms, these projects underscore the profound value and efficacy of ancestral healing practices and community-based care. The intergenerational transfer of knowledge, particularly concerning women’s health and reproductive traditions, is crucial for the continuity of Indigenous cultures and the well-being of their members.
These fellows’ work highlights a significant trend: Indigenous youth are not merely preserving the past but are actively innovating and adapting ancestral wisdom to meet contemporary challenges. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern understanding and advocating for their rights within national and international frameworks, they are forging new pathways for cultural survival and self-determination. The success of these projects offers a model for other Indigenous communities seeking to strengthen their cultural heritage and empower their members. The implications extend beyond individual communities, contributing to a broader global dialogue on the importance of Indigenous knowledge in addressing health disparities, promoting biodiversity, and fostering sustainable development. The continued support and amplification of such initiatives are essential for ensuring that the rich tapestry of Indigenous wisdom continues to thrive for generations to come.
