Conservation, Cosmovision, and Gender in Maijuna Native Communities
Location:
Loreto, Peru
Art Medium:
Mural Painting
Partner:
One Planet
Artist:
Estefania Cox
The Challenge
With a population of 600, the Maijuna are one of the smallest Indigenous groups in the Peruvian Amazon. In 2015, they helped establish the 391,000-hectare Maijuna-Kichwa Regional Conservation Area (MKRCA) to protect their land and way of life. Now, a proposed highway threatens that progress—cutting through the reserve and inviting deforestation, illegal logging, and extractive industries.
Within Maijuna communities, other challenges persist. Their language, Máíhìkì, is on the brink of extinction. At the same time, gender inequality continues to limit women’s involvement in leadership and community decision-making.
The Action
Creative Action Institute and One Planet worked with the Maijuna community to implement workshops focused on leadership development, with a particular focus on addressing existing gender roles that limit the community, and conservation. Forty-four women took part in leadership training, increasing their influence in decision-making processes. A men’s group is being developed to promote respect and non-violence. Workshop participants created a public mural depicting imagery that represents their deep connection to the land.
The Impact
• Following the workshops, a respected female community member voluntarily began teaching Máíhìkì at the local school, supporting efforts to keep the language alive.
• Participants organized a men’s group which meets regularly to openly discuss gender dynamics within their community.
Photo Gallery
