#indigenous communities

If you support Trump, unfollow me. I’m over it and don’t give a fuck. You don’t deserve to consume my content while not seeing me as a human being.

I am a queer Indigenous person. He wants me and my family forced onto the Reservation of our Nation for the CRIME of being registered. For the CRIME of acknowledging our ancestors and our families. He doesn’t want me or my family to be able to go to school or work off of that Reservation. Rights Indigenous Peoples have gotten in the last few DECADES (dancing our traditional dances, our religious practices, speaking our own fucking languages), he wants to take away. Trump fucking posted the National Guard outside of Reservations during COVID to prevent my people from getting medical care. Instead of medicine or help, he sent BODY BAGS. He was President and he let his own people die because of where they lived.

Don’t get me started on all the other ways he wants me dead. I have medical issues where it would be easy for me to die during pregnancy. I shouldn’t be allowed to love another adult because of our sex. I shouldn’t be allowed to work , have children or own anything because technically I’m disabled.

"Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo has a lot to celebrate.

The park, which celebrated its 30th anniversary on December 31 of 2023, also shared an exciting conservation milestone: 2023 was the first year without any elephant poaching detected.

“We didn’t detect any elephants killed in the Park this year, a first for the Park since [we] began collecting data. This success comes after nearly a decade of concerted efforts to protect forest elephants from armed poaching in the Park,” Ben Evans, the Park’s management unit director, said in a press release.

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park was developed by the government of Congo in 1993 to maintain biodiversity conservation in the region, and since 2014, has been cared for through a public-private partnership between Congo’s Ministry of Forest Economy and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Pictured: Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. Photo courtesy of Scott Ramsay/Wildlife Conservation Society

Evans credits the ongoing collaboration with this milestone, as the MEF and WCS have helped address escalating threats to wildlife in the region. 

This specifically includes investments in the ranger force, which has increased training and self-defense capabilities, making the force more effective in upholding the law — and the rights of humans and animals.

“Thanks to the strengthening of our anti-poaching teams and new communication technologies, we have been able to reduce poaching considerably,” Max Mviri, a park warden for the Congolese government, said in a video for the Park’s anniversary. 

“Today, we have more than 90 eco-guards, all of whom have received extensive training and undergo refresher courses,” Mviri continued. “What makes a difference is that 90% of our eco-guards come from villages close to the Park. This gives them extra motivation, as they are protecting their forest.”

As other threats such as logging and road infrastructure development impact the area’s wildlife, the Park’s partnerships with local communities and Indigenous populations in the neighboring villages of Bomassa and Makao are increasingly vital.

“We’ve seen great changes, great progress. We’ve seen the abundance of elephants, large mammals in the village,” Gabriel Mobolambi, chief of Bomassa village, said in the same video. “And also on our side, we benefit from conservation.”

Coinciding with the Park’s anniversary is the roll-out of a tourism-focused website, aiming to generate 15% of its revenue from visitors, which contributes significantly to the local economy...

Nouabalé-Ndoki also recently became the world’s first certified Gorilla Friendly National Park, ensuring best practices are in place for all gorilla-related operations, from tourism to research.

But gorillas and elephants — of which there are over 2,000 and 3,000, respectively — aren’t the only species visitors can admire in the 4,334-square-kilometer protected area.

The Park is also home to large populations of mammals such as chimpanzees and bongos, as well as a diverse range of reptiles, birds, and insects. For the flora fans, Nouabalé-Ndoki also boasts a century-old mahogany tree, and a massive forest of large-diameter trees.

Beyond the beauty of the Park, these tourism opportunities pave the way for major developments for local communities.

“The Park has created long-term jobs, which are rare in the region, and has brought substantial benefits to neighboring communities. Tourism is also emerging as a promising avenue for economic growth,” Mobolambi, the chief of Bomassa village, said in a press release.

The Park and its partners also work to provide education, health centers, agricultural opportunities, and access to clean water, as well, helping to create a safe environment for the people who share the land with these protected animals. 

In fact, the Makao and Bomassa health centers receive up to 250 patients a month, and Nouabalé-Ndoki provides continuous access to primary education for nearly 300 students in neighboring villages. 

It is this intersectional approach that maintains a mutual respect between humans and wildlife and encourages the investment in conservation programs, which lead to successes like 2023’s poaching-free milestone...

Evans, of the Park’s management, added in the anniversary video: “Thanks to the trust that has been built up between all those involved in conservation, we know that Nouabalé-Ndoki will remain a crucial refuge for wildlife for the generations to come.”"

would it be okay to ask if there would be there’s a school in derry, mainly for the shokopiwah tribe to teach the true histories? even based on the extras I didn’t see any indigenous students. but considering the towns racist and colonial history, i’d imagine that they’d unfortunately be forced to go to school with the rest of the town. but then again we saw the elders of the tribe pass stories down during meetings.

I'll be succinct. It's a severe blow to not only the Constitution but to the environmental future of Brazil and the world entire.

We have until 8 August to act — just two days left to sign the petition here:

SIGN THE FUCK OUT OF THIS PETITION AND SHARE IT FAR AND WIDE

Article 225 of the Brazilian Constitution is clear: Everyone has the right to an ecologically balanced environment. This right — essential to a healthy quality of life — cannot be trampled for the economic interests of the few.

This Bill:

Legalises “self-licensing” for medium-impact projects, bypassing proper technical environmental assessments;

Allows political bodies with no environmental expertise to approve high-risk projects;

Excludes Indigenous and traditional communities from decision-making, in violation of ILO Convention 169;

Completely ignores the climate crisis, even as Brazil prepares to host COP30;

Undermines the Paris Agreement, paving the way for new environmental disasters, like the Mariana dam collapse.

According to the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG):

The Ferrogrão railway project between Mato Grosso and Pará alone could cause the loss of 53,000 km² of Amazon rainforest by 2030 — an area the size of Croatia.

Paving the BR‑319 highway could result in up to 9,400 km² of deforestation per year, adding up to 170,000 km² by 2050. All of this would be worsened by the removal of the technical environmental checks currently required by law.

"This site is a multigenerational home for the Indigenous peoples of Florida, and it is not the home of a harmful and unnecessary prison." -

Friends of the Everglades

MASTERLIST - list of victims, ways to help, construction timeline, frequent updates, COMMUNITY CARAVAN

Source

Crónicas Mexicanas

Art can entertain the world — but it can also defend culture and identity.

For decades, Ofelia Medina has done both.

Born in Mérida, Ofelia Medina became one of Mexico’s most respected actresses, appearing in films, television, and theater across Latin America and beyond. Her talent brought powerful stories to life, including her unforgettable portrayal of Frida Kahlo in the film Frida, naturaleza viva.

But Medina’s legacy extends far beyond the screen.

While many know her for her artistic achievements, she has also spent decades standing alongside Indigenous communities across Mexico, advocating for cultural preservation, environmental protection, and Indigenous rights.

Through cultural projects and social initiatives, she has worked to support Indigenous languages, traditions, and the protection of ancestral lands — helping ensure that the voices and heritage of these communities are heard and respected.

Her journey reminds us that artists can do more than perform.

They can tell stories that honor history, defend culture, and inspire future generations.

Ofelia Medina represents a powerful truth about Mexican heritage:

Culture is strength.

Tradition is identity.

 And protecting heritage is a responsibility shared by every generation.

From cinema screens to community work, her life shows how art and activism can come together to celebrate and protect the rich diversity of Mexico.

I’ve been thinking about creating a small reading space.

Lately, I’ve been reading texts about social transformation, justice, and healing within communities that have experienced displacement, isolation, colonial violence, and systemic inequalities ; especially Afro-diasporic and Indigenous communities.

These texts question the world and offer ways to imagine something better. I’ll be sharing some of these readings soon.

And I was wondering…Would anyone be interested in a kind of reading circle ? Nothing too formal. Just a space to share texts, thoughts, questions, and reflections.

i'm still think about the format. Either something open here on Tumblr or a quieter, more private space where we can go deeper.