Young Indigenous leaders in Colombia resist violence to defend land and culture
In Colombia’s conflict-ridden Cauca region, Indigenous youth are risking their lives to protect ancestral lands from armed groups and illegal exploitation.
Steven Grattan reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The 39th Indigenous youth assembly in Las Delicias gathered hundreds of young leaders despite threats from armed dissident groups who target activists and recruit children into violence.
- Participants, many from “semilleros” or youth leadership schools, engaged in cultural rituals, elected new leaders, and planned strategies to defend land and resist armed recruitment.
- Violence in Cauca intensified after the 2016 peace deal with FARC, with Indigenous leaders and guards frequently targeted for opposing illegal mining and drug trafficking operations.
Key quote:
“If death comes, it won’t scare me. What scares me is leaving these young people unprotected.”
— Adriana Pazu, Indigenous authority from the Nasa territory of San Francisco, Toribío
Why this matters:
Colombia’s Indigenous communities stand on the front lines of environmental defense, often at great personal risk. In Cauca, forests, rivers, and mineral-rich land are under pressure from illegal mining, logging, and coca cultivation — industries controlled by armed groups vying for power. These communities are not just protecting nature; they are also defending cultural identity, public health, and the future of Indigenous governance. Youth are particularly vulnerable, targeted for recruitment, sexual violence, and labor exploitation. The struggles unfolding in places like Las Delicias are not isolated — they echo broader global patterns where frontline communities bear the brunt of environmental and political instability.
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