Indigenous Women Demand Participation are Upcoming in Brazil

• Aboriginal women are marking their significant place in safeguarding the earth with the message: "We are the guardians of the planet for the healing of the earth"
• This message was delivered during the National March of Indigenous Women in Brasília in early August

Aboriginal women are taking center stage in the world's climate agenda with the message: We are the elders of the earth for restoration of the planet.

Aboriginal women hope to speak with one voice at COP30 in November, the United Nations climate conference hosted in Belém, Brazil, highlighting the disproportionate impact that extreme weather events have on Indigenous women and girls.

 At the August National March of Indigenous Women in Brasília, leaders noted that Indigenous women, as curators of biodiversity and caretakers of their communities, are the first, and furthest, affected by climate effects from food security, economic devastation, violence, workloads, and they asked for assistance in developing seed houses for climate resilient plants.

The United Nations identifies Indigenous women as critical to environmental protection by conserving seeds, safeguarding pollinators, organic agriculture, and forest management.

Nevertheless, much still needs to be done to ensure their equal participation in decision-making, such as acquiring accreditation for the Blue Zone at COP30 where formal negotiations take place.

Working towards hosting the largest Indigenous delegation ever at COP, organizers anticipate facilitating a minimum of 1,000 Indigenous individuals into the official negotiation forum, surpassing previous records of approximately 350 Indigenous individuals.

The event encompasses the Indigenous Peoples' Circle, the COP Village for up to 3,000 participants, and training initiatives centered on empowering women.

Indigenous leaders are also undertaking preparatory meetings and workshops to strengthen awareness and visibility. Their aim is to connect the local to the global levels of decision-making spaces and back to their communities.

Chief demands are, recognition of the Indigenous contribution in national climate action plans, direct access to climate funding, which today only represents 1 percent of the available funds, as the movement reasserts, land goes to the core of Indigenous rights and well-being.

As leaders witness violence, illegal mining, and the destruction of their lands and health, include instances of mercury poisoning.

At the end of this process is to ensure Indigenous women can be active participants in negotiations and common global agenda's around justice, resilience, and the sustainability of lives and lands.