Indigenous Women Revive Traditional Knowledge Across Three Communities

Three Indigenous women have led projects to preserve and revitalise traditional knowledge in their communities. Their work spans maternal health, cultural heritage, and language revitalisation among the Ngäbe, Kichwa Otavalo, and Muisca peoples. Thalia Jiménez Tomás, a Ngäbe leader with a degree in Local Management for Indigenous Peoples, co-founded the Ngäbe Women Leaders of Siaola. Her project helped recover intercultural maternal health knowledge among midwives, women, youth, and healthcare providers. This effort aimed to restore traditional practices that had long supported community well-being.

Cenia Kaina Córdova Pichamba, a Kichwa Otavalo woman with a degree in Arts and Humanities, focused on anthropology and cultural heritage. She organised a meeting with Kichwa midwives to share knowledge, connect traditional customs with modern medicine, and build a supportive network. Her project, Yuyakuna, also documents ancestral midwifery knowledge to assert its value in daily life.

Gabriela Garibello Daza, a Muisca leader, co-founded the Tinizí Indigenous Collective and leads the Bosa Native Language Revitalization Program. Her project created a space for Muisca women to retain knowledge in medicine, midwifery, and herbalism. It also engaged women in preventive care to improve their physical, emotional, and spiritual health. These initiatives highlight the enduring importance of Indigenous knowledge systems. They demonstrate how traditional practices in health, language, and community care continue to thrive alongside modern approaches. The projects also strengthen cultural identity and intergenerational learning.