Healing Land & People: Gender-Based Violence & Protecting Indigenous Women

Join the at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice for a powerful community dialogue bringing together Indigenous women land defenders, advocates, and allies to address the links between land dispossession, extractive industries, and violence against Indigenous peoples—including the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis.

Event Description:

As the world accelerates toward a green energy transition requiring massive mineral extraction, Indigenous women face escalating threats on the frontlines of resource conflicts. This community dialogue brings together Indigenous women land defenders, advocates, and allies to address the direct connection between land dispossession, extractive industries, and violence against Indigenous peoples, particularly the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples epidemic (MMIP).

Timed to coincide with UNPFII 2026's theme of "Indigenous Health and Conflict," this event centers the voices of Indigenous women who are protecting their territories and communities, carrying the values of land stewardship that was passed onto them by their mothers and matriarchs. Through storytelling, dialogue, and interactive strategy sessions, participants will explore how Indigenous land stewardship creates safety and protection, and develop concrete actions using UN frameworks and grassroots organizing.

Key Focus Areas:

Connection between land dispossession and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP)

Indigenous land stewardship as protection and resistance to extractive violence

How territorial sovereignty and cultural connection create community safety

International accountability mechanisms and UNDRIP implementation

Building solidarity networks for Indigenous women land defenders

Expected Outcomes:

Concrete policy commitments/recommendations

Enhanced understanding on MMIWG2P+ impacts on climate

Education on the protection of Indigenous women, girls, and 2-spirit individuals as climate action

Speaker:

Adina Farinango - A Kichwa-Otavalo artist who uses art as an act of resistance, healing, and self-expression

Moderators:

Delfina Roybal- Indigenous design communications, digital strategy, and storytelling that help organizations

Lily Joy Winder - Diné, Southern Ute, African American, Stanford Master’s Earth System, Digital Strategist with 300k+ Followers

Yanenowi Logan - Seneca Nation, Columbia M.S. in Climate & UN Food and Agriculture Organization Indigenous Knowledge Intern

Kianna Pete- Diné, Tribal Conservation Program Fellow | Board Secretary at American Indian Community House | Ambassador at College Fund | Indigenous Education & Climate Justice

Charitie Ropati- Engineer | Climate Advisor to UN Secretary-General | Regional Facilitator @ Youth Climate Justice Fund | UN Women Leader | Forbes 30U30 | Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award

About Us

The Human Impacts Institute (HII) is a NYC-founded nonprofit that harnesses arts, culture, and community engagement to spark bold climate action. For over sixteen years, HII has connected environmental justice, creative storytelling, and collective leadership, centering the voices of those most impacted by the climate crisis. HII offers a unique approach that blends cultural expression, coalition-building, and hands-on strategy to bridge the gap between awareness and sustained action.

🔗 More About the Creative Climate Awards & the Human Impacts Institute: https://www.humanimpactsinstitute.org/cca2026

Thank you to the Ford Foundation for providing us with the space to host this event.

This program is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, along with generous support from TECO, DUMBO Business Improvement District, and the NYC DOT Arts Program.

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Info: -Small group discussions developing actionable strategies using UN mechanisms, local organizing, and Indigenous governance models
-Draft one clear way you will bring these ideas back home and put them into action within your organization, agency, or community.

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Host or Publisher Human Impacts Institute