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Ending Hunger Begins with Indigenous Leadership

Recognizing Indigenous Leadership on International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

On August 12, 2025, Heifer International marked the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples by advocating for urgent action to uplift indigenous leadership as a cornerstone for transforming food systems and addressing the climate crisis. As part of its global campaign titled “In the Hands of Farmers,” Heifer International proudly highlights the critical role that indigenous communities play in building resilient, fair, and sustainable food systems.

This campaign asserts a compelling truth: the future of our food, climate, and planet rests in the hands of those who cultivate it. Recognizing this principle is fundamental in the fight against hunger and poverty. Heifer calls upon governments, donors, and international agencies to prioritize indigenous leadership by structurally integrating it into food and climate governance.

Urgent Actions Needed

The organization urges addressing several key priorities:

• - Protecting Land, Seeds, and Water Access: Ensuring that indigenous communities have guaranteed access to their vital resources.
• - Channeling Funding Directly to Indigenous Initiatives: Supporting local projects that are designed and implemented by indigenous peoples.
• - Incorporating Ancestral Knowledge into Policies: Infusing educational, climate, and food policies with indigenous wisdom that has been tested through generations.

Amid rising food insecurity and intensifying climate extremes, indigenous knowledge offers tried-and-true pathways to sustainable practices, such as regenerative agriculture and circular economies, and promotes a significant harmony with the Earth. This understanding is articulated by Ecuadorian leader Josseline Veronica Vega Rojas, who states, “Food is not only sustenance; it embodies identity, resilience, and love for nature. Cultivating it in harmony with the Earth is a hopeful act and a celebration of life.”

Changing Power Dynamics

Indigenous leadership is also reshaping traditional power dynamics within their communities. Marta Choc, president of the High Verapaz Livestock Association in Guatemala, shared, “In the past, women were not permitted to lead. Now we know we can advance. Thanks to Heifer and the support they provide, we have learned that we can work with dignity here too.”

Despite producing about one-third of the world’s food, smallholder farmers, many of whom are indigenous, remain largely excluded from political and economic systems that dictate agricultural production, its processes, and who benefits from them.

Reviving Cultural Roots Through Agriculture

From Latin America to Asia and Africa, indigenous communities are cultivating nutritious, culturally relevant foods, reviving native seeds, rehabilitating degraded lands, and safeguarding ancestral wisdom that has withstood centuries of marginalization. Surita Sandosham, President and CEO of Heifer International, states, “Indigenous communities are not just preserving the past; they are cultivating the future. To transform food systems and tackle the climate crisis, we must honor their rights, dignity, and leadership. Food sovereignty begins with land, voice, and respect.”

As critical global climate conversations loom at COP30 later this year, Heifer International will continue advocating for climate solutions rooted in agroecology and indigenous leadership. These approaches have long demonstrated their power in strengthening community resilience and fostering sustainable change around the globe.

About Heifer International

Since its inception in 1944, Heifer International has worked alongside over 52 million people worldwide to sustainably eradicate hunger and poverty while also caring for the Earth. Operating in 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas—including the United States—Heifer supports farmers and food producers to bolster local economies and establish secure livelihoods that provide essential income. For more information, visit www.heifer.org.