Discussions on Indigenous Women and Climate Change at the UN

Below is a guest blog entry from Ignacio de Carabassa, a MADRE intern.  He is reporting back from some of the events taking place this week at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

During a special event at the Ninth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Permanent Mission of Finland and the Permanent Mission of Ecuador talked about the impact of climate change on Indigenous women. “These changes are affecting agriculture, and in many Indigenous communities, women are in charge of this activity” said Eva Biaudet, ex-Health Minister of Finland.

Many Indigenous women have traditional knowledge that applies to how climate changes could affect agriculture. “We need to ensure Indigenous women's participation in the decision-making process,” said Biaudet. “Indigenous women make a new economy possible, with crops, arts and knowledge of Pachamama, our mother earth”, explained Miriam Masaquiza of Ecuador.

“Indigenous women are the most affected with climate change. They can see the changes everyday; governments have to include them in their programs, because they know how these changes could be exploited,” concluded Masaquiza.