Indigenous Female Writers of Latin America

Rigoberta Menchú: A Nobel Peace Prize winner, Menchú is an indigenous K'iche' Maya social activist who has written extensively about her experiences and the struggles of indigenous people in Guatemala. Her autobiography, I, Rigoberta Menchú, is widely acclaimed.

Calixta Gabriel Xiquín, a Kaqchikel Maya poet, writer, and spiritual guide, aims to highlight the history and cultural identity of the Maya people in Guatemala, as well as the role of women in Maya culture, history, and worldview. In her books Tejiendo los sucesos en el tiempo/Weaving Events in Time (2002) and La cosmovisión maya y las mujeres: aportes desde el punto de vista de una ajq’ij (guía espiritual) kaqchikel (2008), she discusses the challenges faced by being a woman, indigenous, and poor. Despite these challenges, she emphasizes the importance of Native women, stating, "Native woman, in your hands rests Mother Earth and in you resides hope." Gabriel Xiquín confronts ethnic and gender discrimination and oppression while celebrating her community's heritage and the role of women in both spiritual and material aspects. She calls for recognition and attention to the needs and contributions of Maya women.

Alba Eiragi Duarte, born in 1960 in Curuguaty, Paraguay, is a poet and Indigenous leader. She is of Aché descent and grew up in the Avá Guaraní community in Colonia Fortuna, Canindeyú Department. Her works include the poetry collection "Ñe’ẽ yvoty: Ñe’ẽ poty" and the story collection "Ayvu tee Avá Guaraní." In 2017, she became the first Indigenous woman to join the Society of Writers of Paraguay. Her poems and short stories have been featured in national and international anthologies.

Yásnaya Elena Aguilar Gil born in 1981 in Ayutla Mixe, Oaxaca, Mexico, is a linguist, writer, and activist. She focuses on preserving and promoting Indigenous languages, particularly Ayuuk (Mixe). Aguilar Gil has published numerous works and is a prominent voice in advocating for linguistic and cultural rights.