Indigenous Women Leaders: Environmental and Economic Care in the Peruvian Amazon and Andes

This study explores the biographies of Kichwa and Quechua women from the Peruvian Amazon and Andes, focusing on their roles as leaders within Indigenous economies deeply intertwined with environmental stewardship. We focus on women leaders committed to the protection of water, forests, and grasslands, who earn their livelihoods through the sustainable use of these resources. They achieve this by intelligently linking artisanal production—such as chocolate, majambo, vicuña fiber, and jewelry—to global consumers and solidarity networks.

By drawing on longitudinal ethnographic research, interviews, conversations and close accompaniment of these women in their struggles for territorial and family well-being, the study highlights the emergence of leadership rooted in the care of forests or punas (high-altitude grasslands) and local economies. Despite facing significant cultural and structural challenges, these leaders drive change by building strategic networks among women across diverse landscapes and forging collaborations with national and international NGOs. The analysis provides insight into the dynamics of Indigenous women's leadership and the potential for sustainable development that centers on community and environmental harmony. This work contributes to the broader understanding of how women’s biographies are shaped by and, in turn, shape the territories and economies in which they are embedded, extending beyond their immediate surroundings.