Three Indigenous Women Revive Ancestral Knowledge Through Bold Initiatives

Three Indigenous women have been recognised for their efforts to preserve and revitalise traditional knowledge. Gabriela Garibello Daza, Cenia Kaina Córdova Pichamba, and Thalia Jiménez Tomas each lead projects focused on ancestral medicine, midwifery, and cultural heritage. Their work highlights the enduring value of Indigenous practices in modern contexts. Gabriela Garibello Daza, of Muisca heritage, co-founded the Tinizí Indigenous Collective and directs the Bosa Native Language Revitalization Program. She has also created a space dedicated to women’s medicine, midwifery, and herbalism from a Muisca perspective. As an apprentice in ancestral medicine, she emphasises communal ceremonies to strengthen relationships among Indigenous communities. Her project engages Muisca women in preventive care for physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Cenia Kaina Córdova Pichamba, a Kichwa Otavalo woman, holds a degree in Arts and Humanities with a focus on anthropology and cultural heritage. Her initiative, Yuyakuna (Knowledge), documents the ancestral practices of Kichwa midwives. The project asserts Indigenous Knowledge as essential to daily life and seeks to preserve these traditions for future generations.

Thalia Jiménez Tomas, a Ngäbe leader, co-founded the Ngäbe Women Leaders of Siaola and holds a degree in Local Management for Indigenous Peoples. She recently received the 2024 European Union Gender Equality Award for her work with the Indigenous Women's Organization. Her efforts aim to recover intercultural maternal health knowledge among Ngäbe midwives, women, youth, and healthcare providers. These initiatives demonstrate how Indigenous Peoples have long maintained sophisticated systems of care through deep ecological knowledge and intentional listening. By documenting and revitalising these practices, Daza, Pichamba, and Tomas ensure that ancestral wisdom remains a living part of their communities. Their projects offer concrete ways to integrate traditional knowledge into contemporary health and cultural preservation.