The 5th of September has been designated “International Indigenous Women’s Day”, which is why as part of the follow-up to the work process with the Alto Chirripo Cabécar Indigenous Territory, the Turrialba Sub-regional Office of the Central Conservation Area, together with the Alaklä waKa Kjänana wa Indigenous Women’s Association, coordinated this important celebration.
This association has 60 women members, representing 23 communities in this territory, and its motto is “Women Guardians of Mother Earth”.
On Saturday, 7 September, a series of cultural and sporting activities took place in the community of Grano de Oro, in the district of Chirripó in the canton of Turrialba, with the sale of traditional products, drinks and handicrafts.
The aim is to pay tribute to indigenous women for the important role they play in transmitting culture and the leading role they have played in the territory.
Participation and presentation of the environmental-forestry brigade
The event was attended by the community, students from the Grano de Oro school, representatives of the Ministry of Public Security, Costa Rican firefighters, the National Commission for Indigenous Affairs, the Alto Chirripó Development Association, and members of the Legislative Assembly,
There was also an official presentation of the environmental forestry brigade, made up of 18 people, including indigenous men and women from this territory, who are trained and in the process of being equipped to fight forest fires and carry out environmental education work. Bomberos de Costa Rica donated T-shirts to each of the brigade members.
“This celebration not only corresponds to an international celebration, it calls for reflection so that all the institutions that work in this territory contribute to reducing the social gap in general and the gender gap in particular, so that gradually the indigenous women of the Alto Chirripó Indigenous Territory and all those of the country, have opportunities to defend their rights, to be independent, and always continue with their valuable role within the community to keep the indigenous culture alive”– Meryll Arias Quirós, Central Conservation Area Director




