Elena Arellano Chamorro

Nicaraguan indigenous rights defender who established autonomous schools in Moskitia rainforest

Elena Arellano Chamorro (1942-2019), a Miskitu leader from Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, pioneered bilingual indigenous education against government opposition. After surviving multiple assassination attempts, she created the Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka school network preserving Miskitu language and ecology knowledge.

Her 'Forest Classroom' model combines traditional farming with environmental science. Over 3,000 graduates now protect 2 million hectares of rainforest. Read her manifesto on cultural preservation.

During the 1980s Contra War, Elena negotiated neutral zones protecting 14 indigenous communities. Her 2008 Supreme Court victory established legal precedent for Native Land Titling across Central America. Explore her oral history archive.