Field Technician Severiana Dominguez Gonzalez Recognized as Indigenous Climate Leader

Congratulations to Severiana Domínguez González, who has been featured for her fantastic work in Mexico during the Climate Crossroads Exhibit at COP26.

We are incredibly proud of our field technician Severiana Domínguez González who was recognized by the Human Impacts Institute for her work to limit deforestation and ensure climate justice in Mexico through Indigenous territorial and water management.

Severiana was among the ten Indigenous women and youth from the Global South that were featured in the Climate Crossroads Exhibit. Illustrated by Indigenous and Afro-descendant artists, the portraits were showcased during COP26.

As Indigenous Peoples were dramatically underrepresented during the global negotiations, the multi-media exhibition aimed to make sure their voices, ideas, expertise, and demands were heard by the Summit's participants.

"With the Climate Crossroads Exhibit, we [brought] attention to how Indigenous Peoples' ancestral knowledge must be central to how we address climate action," said Tara DePorte, ED and Founder of the Human Impacts Institute.

Severiana is a Technical Coordinator of our local partner Chinantla Regional Environmental Fund (FARCO) in Oaxaca, Mexico. She works with our team to restore ecosystems impacted by climate change and support and empower local communities.

For Severiana, women's rights, land rights, and climate and ecological justice are inseparable. She has been working for the past 15 years for the sustainable development of a more inclusive and supporting society. She is committed to strengthening the territorial and collective rights of women, children, and elderly people so that they can participate in the process of conservation and management of their territory. You can listen to her interview in Spanish below:

Part of her activities involves the creation of financial mechanisms to compensate indigenous communities for their environmental services. She also strives to revitalize the local culture and Indigenous' knowledge.

Severiana has been working to establish eco-pilot models and water management techniques to limit deforestation and strengthen rural land sacred to Indigenous communities. She believes that local efforts must go hand in hand with national activities, especially within the legal and institutional framework.

When planning the conservation of natural resources, native communities must be consulted. They need to be recognized as a reservoir of indispensable knowledge. Otherwise, she says, they run the risk of being expropriated again.

A big shout-out to Severiana for her incredible work: Her passion and dedication inspire us every day!

Learn more about the Climate Crossroads Project and the other amazing leaders recognized.