Ancestral food systems are not only crucial for food security and food sovereignty, but also for protecting land stewardship, biodiversity, cultural identities, and spiritual wellbeing.
Self-empowered women as agents for sustainable change and effective crisis response
Since the crisis due to Covid-19 measures hit Costa Rica in March 2020, our local partners and Indigenous leaders from the Talamanca rainforest worked tirelessly to implement a prevention and recovery plan based on their ancestral culture and traditional food production system. It is within this context and framework of our women empowerment program that the Indigenous women-led and virtually managed produce exchange system was established. The “Estanco Indígena de Trueque Virtual” was co-created together with our Indigenous partners - the Cabecar women’s association Kábata Könana, the association for the integral development of the Talamanca Cabécar territory (ADITICA), and the Indigenous Bribri and Cabecar network (RIBCA).
The initiative is an effective solution combining ancestral farming practices with new communication and digital technology to strengthen communities’ resilience related to health crises, food insecurity, and climate change. Indigenous women trained as community coordinators, called “weavers of knowledge”, have led the initiative with over 200 families of 15 communities actively participating in the traditional production system for self-sufficiency and food sovereignty.
With the “Estanco Indígena de Trueque Virtual”, they promote solidarity among families and facilitate exchange mechanisms for agricultural produces, seeds and knowledge based on their culture and in harmony with nature. This sustainable model of regenerative agriculture is grounded on the Indigenous cultural principles and the values of ñakimá (solidarity), julákimá (exchange), klabé (collectivity), and käpakö (dialogue).
Building resilience and generating income opportunities hand-in-hand with Nature
Today, the women’s initiative has become a reference within the Indigenous territories of the Cabecar and Bribi Peoples, but also regionally and globally. Additionally, the agricultural and traditional product fairs have allowed the revival of ancestral knowledge, putting emphasis on the traditional food production systems and the elaboration of traditional handicrafts that have almost been lost. Families have recognized the potentials and benefits of diversifying their agricultural products as well as the immense value that their handicrafts, cultures and knowledge have within and beyond their territories. Not only do their traditional production systems enable healthy food, healthy communities and a healthy environment, but they also constitute a source of income, especially for Indigenous women, heads of households and primary caregivers, who did not have many choices before, other than cultivating bananas on monoculture plantations.
Indigenous women are leading a forest revolution combining ancestral knowledge with technology to make their communities resilient to climate change.
Impact
The initiative promotes the recovery and expansion of the traditional organic farming system, which includes five distinctive areas: 1) Teitö (area for crop rotation, especially grains); 2) Witö (backyard for growing food crops, medicines and keeping domestic animals); 3) Sa Delí (area for minor species); 4) Chimokëlo (area for more permanent products such as cocoa, bananas and fruit trees, combining agroforestry with crops for markets) and 5) Sá Chä (space for forest and water conservation).
The revival of traditional systems is essential for sustainable rainforest protection and the promotion of regenerative agriculture. Amidst widespread monoculture development, the revitalization of traditional and polycultural food production systems has enhanced the protection and selection of diverse native seeds, which are also better adapted to extreme rainfall and drought induced by the global climate crisis.
The revitalization of traditional food sources and practices lead to the regeneration of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional cultures, restoring their connection to the land and their ability to exercise their land and treaty rights. According to United Nations agencies (IFAD, 2021), Indigenous food systems represent a treasure trove of knowledge that contribute to human and ecosystem well-being, benefiting communities and planetary health, preserving rich biodiversity, and providing nutritious food, while capturing vast amounts of CO2.
Indigenous food systems improve livelihoods and foster inclusive economic growth
At least 2,000 people of the Indigenous Cabécar in Talamanca benefit from the local food security system with the Estanco. Over 80% of the families ensure their access to food through the creation of family gardens and the exchange of produces and seeds. Our local partner, Kábata Könana, through its capacity building and strategic approach ensures the active political participation of the Indigenous women, who lead this initiative on the ground and strengthen self-empowerment, income opportunities, and freedom of choice.
