In a world where extractive industries threaten their land and lives, Indigenous women in the Amazon are not just resisting destruction — they are transforming political systems, writes Camila Montero. From grassroots mobilisation to high-level policy-making, their leadership is shaping the future of environmental democratic governance
Across the Amazon, Indigenous women are leading the fight for democracy, environmental justice, and human rights. In countries where extractivist policies dominate, these women are not only resisting the destruction of their territories, they are redefining political participation.
From grassroots mobilisation to holding political office, their leadership challenges the historical exclusion of Indigenous peoples and women. Their fight is not just against environmental destruction but against a system that marginalises them on multiple fronts. As Indigenous women, they experience layered discrimination — their political and environmental struggles are shaped not only by racism and colonial legacies but also by patriarchal structures that limit women's roles in leadership. Despite these barriers and the entrenched power of extractive industries, they are winning battles — securing legal victories, shifting national policies, and making their voices heard globally.
Indigenous women securing legal victories, shifting national policies, and making their voices heard globally
Indigenous women occupy a frontline role in environmental defence, yet remain under-recognised in global climate discourse. Their work, however, proves that democracy extends beyond institutions, thriving in those who protect land, communities, and future generations.
Brazil and Ecuador have different political landscapes. Yet in both countries, Indigenous women have carved out space in politics and activism, demonstrating that change is possible, even in the most challenging contexts. Their leadership — through institutional politics or legal advocacy — demonstrates a broader shift toward Indigenous governance and environmental justice.
In Brazil, Sônia Guajajara made history in 2023 when she became the country’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples. A long-time activist for Indigenous rights and environmental protection, her appointment marked a landmark achievement, placing Indigenous leadership at the centre of national policy-making for the first time. She has led efforts to expand Indigenous land demarcations and strengthened governmental action against illegal deforestation. Yet, her work remains an uphill battle. Powerful agribusiness lobbies and conservative political forces continue to resist Indigenous land claims, making her role a direct challenge to entrenched economic and political interests.
Sônia Guajajara, a long-time activist for Indigenous rights and environmental protection made history in 2023 when she became the country’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples
Meanwhile, in Ecuador, Patricia Gualinga, a Kichwa leader from Sarayaku, has fought legal battles to secure Indigenous land rights. Her leadership was instrumental in a groundbreaking Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling, which established that states must obtain Indigenous consent before approving extractive projects. Beyond the courtroom, her advocacy helped drive Ecuador’s 2023 referendum victory, in which voters supported keeping crude oil underground in Yasunà National Park — one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. Her success represents a rare democratic win for Indigenous and environmental movements, proving that legal and political advocacy can shift national policies.
Together, these victories highlight a growing movement in which Indigenous women are not only resisting extractivism, but shaping national legal and political frameworks.
These victories, however, do not come without risk. In both countries, violence is often used to suppress Indigenous resistance. Illegal mining, agribusiness expansion, and oil extraction have led to the militarisation of Indigenous lands. Governments often justify this as 'securing national resources'.
In Ecuador, President Daniel Noboa has deployed military forces to Indigenous territories to protect extractive industries, overriding the democratic will of the people who voted against oil drilling in YasunÃ. Only recently, unconstitutional oil and land concessions have taken place in the country. Similarly, in Brazil, land invasions by illegal loggers and miners continue, despite government commitments to Indigenous rights.
Yet, Indigenous women refuse to be silenced. Their resistance is not just about survival — it is about transforming political systems to be fundamentally inclusive and just.
The rise of Indigenous women in formal politics is reshaping governance itself. By securing positions of power, they are not only challenging exclusionary systems but actively transforming them.
In Brazil, Guajajara has already driven tangible change. Under her leadership, the government has resumed land demarcations and reinforced environmental protections, despite strong opposition from conservative lawmakers. Her appointment marks a turning point at which Indigenous leadership is no longer marginal but central to policy decisions.
Similarly, in Ecuador, Gualinga’s activism has shaped national and international legal frameworks. Through strategic litigation, she has ensured that Indigenous communities have greater legal standing in environmental and territorial disputes.
And Indigenous women's impact goes beyond their individual achievements. While these trailblazers have broken barriers, a new generation of Indigenous women is stepping onto the global stage. Nina Gualinga, from the Sarayaku people in Ecuador, has emerged as a leading advocate in international climate forums, pushing for greater recognition of Indigenous rights in environmental governance. Her activism underscores the exclusionary dynamics of global climate discourse, where Indigenous voices often go unheard unless amplified by dominant actors.
With greater political representation, Indigenous women leaders amplify historically silenced perspectives, making democracy more inclusive and accountable
Even so, their leadership extends beyond politics and activism, redefining power by placing Indigenous governance models and environmental justice at the heart of global democratic debates. At the same time, their political struggles expose the deeper intersections of gender, race, and environmental justice. They are breaking down barriers rooted in sexism and racism, for the benefit of future generations. With greater political representation, these women amplify historically silenced perspectives, making democracy more inclusive and accountable.
Through legal wins, political leadership, and global advocacy, Indigenous women in Brazil and Ecuador show that true democracy must protect land, uphold Indigenous rights, and include marginalised voices.
Despite violence and systemic barriers, they keep fighting — a struggle that reaches far beyond their territories. But how much longer must they fight alone?
This International Women’s Day, Indigenous stories remind us that these women are not only defending their communities, but leading the way toward a more just and sustainable world.
Photo: author's own, from a fieldwork expedition to the Ecuadorian Amazon, 2025
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