Solidarity Update: April 2019

NISGUA, BTS Jointly Organizing Webinars, “In Our Own Skin” - Maya Achí Women’s Fight for Justice

In Guatemala, a historic case for survivors of sexual violence committed during the conflict is in process. 36 Maya Achí women have fought to tell their stories of survival in the face of systematic sexual violence committed by state-sponsored forces in the Rabinal region from 1982-1985. The case is now in the intermediary phase, in which the High Risk Court “A” led byJudge Claudette Domínguez will decide whether there is enough evidence to move forward to a public trial.

This May 8 and 9, two women involved in the case will join NISGUA and BTS to talk about their years of work for justice for survivors of sexual violence and other crimes against humanity. Paulina Alvarado (survivor and witness in the case) and Gloria Pérez (lawyer with the Rabinal Legal Clinic) will share more about the struggle for justice for survivors of sexual violence in a context of impunity.

The May 8 webinar will be held in Spanish and the May 9 webinar will feature interpretation into English. Both webinars will take place at 3PM Pacific/6PM Eastern. We encourage you to take action in support of the Maya Achí women survivors by:

• Hosting a webinar party: Share this information with friends and comrades, then invite them over to learn more from some of the women most involved with the case.
• Showing solidarity with the women: Take a selfie with the message, “Si hubo genocidio y violencia sexual en Rabinal,” or “Justice for Achí Women,” or with a message of your own. Share it by email to martha@nisgua.org to make sure that the women see the worldwide support and solidarity with their work for justice.
• Fundraising: At your webinar party and in the coming weeks, ask friends to support NISGUA’s accompaniment of the survivors and witnesses in this case and in other cases for justice.

2019 Delegation Report-back: NISGUA and NMSU Organize Environmental Indigenous Leadership Exchange

This March, NISGUA partnered with New Mexico State University to host a week-long exchange between Indigenous undergraduate students and Maya Q’eqchi’, Mam, Q’anjob’al, and K’iche’ environmental defenders. Ten NMSU students visited with NISGUA partners in the Chixoy and Copón Rivers watershed to learn about their grassroots organizing model that builds community-level Indigenous leadership to defend ancestral territories against the imposition of the Xalalá mega-dam. Participants experienced daily life in communities, observed Indigenous leadership in action, and shared about their people’s struggles for sovereignty and social and ecological justice in the U.S.

This delegation culminated a year of organizing to build relationships between Indigenous water protectors in Guatemala and the U.S., and served as a direct follow-up to our fall speaking tour, “How to Stop a Dam with Indigenous Resistance.” It was also our first delegation to focus exclusively on facilitating direct exchange between Indigenous leaders — a dream originally conceived by NISGUA member and co-organizer of the exchange, Kayla Myers (Eastern Shoshone Descendant), when she was an accompanier with our Guatemala Accompaniment Project.

Learn more about the Environmental Indigenous Leadership Exchange here and check out the photo gallery featuring the delegates along their journey.

Accompanier Olivia Pandolfi Creates Zine on Community Consultations in Guatemala

Join the NISGUA Team -- in Oakland or in Guatemala!

NISGUA is looking for committed activists to join our team. We are hiring for two positions: U.S. Operations & Programs Coordinator based out of our Oakland office and Guatemala Accompaniment Project (GAP) Coordinator based out of our Guatemala City office.

• The U.S. Operations & Program Coordinator will be responsible for U.S. base-building and program development, leading grassroots fundraising initiatives together with the U.S. Director, and carrying out the organization’s financial administration.
• The GAP Coordinator will ensure that Guatemalan partner organizations receive effective international accompaniment through GAP, a transformative accompanier and fellowship program. 

Applications are being accepted immediately, so apply today! 

NISGUA is an equal opportunity employer and inclusive organization. People of Indigenous/ Central American identity/descent, multiracial/POC, poor/working class, and queer people are strongly encouraged to apply. 

We're in this for the long haul.