Gathering of Indigenous Feminist Activists in 2024: Community Communicators United Against Resource Extraction!
Indigenous Women Radio Broadcasters' Gathering 2024 in Tlayacapan, Mexico
The Indigenous Women Radio Broadcasters' Gathering 2024 took place from June 7-9 in Tlayacapan, Morelos, Mexico. The event, organized by the Canadian organization Fuego Nuevo, brought together 22 women from various Mexican states to discuss and learn about the importance of community radios, the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, and the impact of extractive projects on Indigenous territories.
The gathering took place at the Casa de la Mujer Campesina in San José de los Laureles, Tlayacapan, led by a group of Indigenous women. The first day focused on the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, with a special emphasis on the ruling of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in favor of Indigenous community radios in Guatemala. Guadalupe Pastrana emphasized the importance of providing quality information and investigating and analyzing the information being transmitted.
On the second day, the extraction of transition minerals was discussed, with participants highlighting the negative impacts it has on Indigenous territories and the little attention it receives within communities. Miguel Ángel Mijangos Leal, a member of the Civil Association Procesos Integrales para la Autogestión de los Pueblos, led a discussion on how mining causes irreversible damage to the land and brings with it other deep problems and consequences. Participants shared examples of the negative impacts of the extraction of transition minerals on their communities, including water contamination, violence, drug addiction, and assassinations of activists and community leaders.
The editing and radio production workshop aimed to encourage more women's participation in Indigenous community radios, focusing on the importance of women's right to health and optimizing radio program timing. The workshop covered the basic functioning of different microphones, radio formats, and audio editing using Adobe Audition. Participants practiced producing radio programs about meeting topics and received feedback, sharing tips for future radio productions.
One participant expressed gratitude for being invited to the meeting, marking it as a first step in learning about production and editing for their community. The meeting closed with a thank-you ceremony at the altar of offerings, led by one of the spiritual guides of the Women's House.
Participants shared their impressions of the meeting, expressing the importance of learning about the impact of the Mayan Train, women's leadership in radio production, and the value of networking and sharing materials. They also expressed a commitment to breaking the barrier for women and children to bring information through radio productions and investigating further to transmit through radio programs.
Organizing through community assemblies was emphasized as a fundamental method to stop extractive projects and defend Indigenous territories. The IACHR ruling ordered the State of Guatemala to grant radio frequencies to four Indigenous community radios, allowing them to continue promoting their rights, culture, and issues of interest in their own languages. This ruling was seen as a beacon of hope for Indigenous communities in Mexico, as they continue to fight for their rights and autonomy in the face of extractive projects and discrimination.
