Lourdes Mendoza

A Peruvian anthropologist and activist advancing Indigenous women’s rights and cultural preservation in the Amazon.

Lourdes Mendoza, born in 1968 in the Peruvian Amazon, is a Quechua anthropologist and advocate for Indigenous rights, particularly focusing on women’s empowerment and environmental justice. Her work bridges academia and grassroots activism, challenging systemic discrimination against Indigenous communities in Peru. Mendoza’s research, including her seminal book <《Swimming in the Amazon: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Andes》, explores the intersection of gender, race, and colonialism in the Andes and Amazon regions.

As a co-founder of the Amazonian Indigenous Women’s Network, Mendoza has led campaigns to protect ancestral lands from deforestation and corporate exploitation. Her advocacy includes opposing illegal mining and oil drilling in Indigenous territories, which threaten both ecosystems and cultural heritage. Mendoza’s efforts have influenced national policies, such as Peru’s 2011 law recognizing Indigenous peoples’ right to prior consultation on resource extraction projects.

She has also promoted intercultural education, establishing schools in remote Amazonian communities that teach Quechua and Asháninka languages. Mendoza’s work was featured in the documentary <《Voices of the Amazon》 (2018), highlighting Indigenous women’s roles as custodians of biodiversity. Her global collaborations include advising the UN’s Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, advocating for Indigenous sovereignty and climate justice. Mendoza’s legacy lies in her unwavering commitment to centering Indigenous voices in environmental and social movements.