In the Guatemalan highlands of Sololá, Gabriel, Vice President of the community water committee in Caserío Progreso Xajaxac, stands at the center of his community’s fight to protect one of life’s most vital resources: water.
Over the years, Gabriel has seen the environment around him change dramatically.
“The number of natural springs and trees in our community has drastically decreased,” he explains. “Construction has displaced nature, and it’s becoming harder and harder to find clean water.”
The effects of climate change are not distant or abstract here—they are part of everyday life. Families are losing harvests, landslides make access to remote communities difficult, and once-reliable water sources are drying up. Yet amid these challenges, Gabriel and other Indigenous leaders continue to rise as protectors of the land, guided by ancestral knowledge and community unity.
“We plant native trees along the edges of the springs,” Gabriel says. “We respect the agricultural calendar and our sacred sites. These traditions connect us to the land and teach us how to live in balance with nature.”
For Gabriel, defending and protecting the territory means defending life itself.
“It’s about ensuring that water and food will still exist for our children and the generations to come.”
Through Natün’s new five-year strategic plan, we are committed to supporting Indigenous leaders like Gabriel—those who are not only responding to environmental change but leading the way in building sustainable, community-driven solutions. Together, communities are restoring forests, protecting water sources, and teaching future generations the importance of caring for Mother Earth.
Gabriel dreams of a future where the springs flow freely again, where crops thrive, and where families live in harmony with the land—just as their ancestors once did. But he also knows that time is running out.
“Water is a living being that gives us life,” he reminds us. “Stop seeing it only as something to consume—it is the heart of Mother Earth. Without it, there is no harvest, no community, no future.”
His message to the world is both urgent and hopeful:
“Act today, not tomorrow. Climate change is already here. We must recover our ancestral respect for nature—plant native trees, care for our rivers, and manage our waste responsibly.”
“We are one global community. What happens here in Sololá affects the air and climate where you live. Value your territory as we value ours—consume less, respect more, and defend the water before it’s too late.”
As Natün looks ahead to the next five years, voices like Gabriel’s guide our path—reminding us that protecting the environment is not just a local issue, but a shared responsibility.
Your support helps Indigenous leaders like Gabriel protect water, restore balance, and ensure a thriving future for generations to come.
