Highlight

Indian Law Resource Center hosts the 2nd Annual Indigenous Lands Initiative Conference in Antigua, Guatemala

07.03.2026

Indian Law Resource Center staff gathered for closing remarks.

The Second Annual Indigenous Lands Initiative Conference held in Guatemala | June 2026

In June 2026, the Indian Law Resource Center hosted the Second Annual Indigenous Lands Initiative (ILI) Conference in La Antigua, Guatemala. Held over two days, the conference brought together Indigenous leaders, community advocates, partner organizations, and government representatives to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and advance efforts to secure Indigenous lands rights across Mexico, Central, and South Amerca.

The Indigenous Lands Initiative is a project of the Indian Law Resource Center, developed in partnership with the Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB) and the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Amazon (AIDESEP). The initiative works to build capacity of Indigenous communities to navigate the legal framework of land titling in the MCSA. (Read more about our ILI project's progress in our Success Memo.)

The conference provided an opportunity to reflect on the ILI's progress over the past year, celebrate key accomplishments, and identify shared priorities for the future. Through panel discussions, interactive workshops, and open dialogue, participants exchanged knowledge and experiences on the process of land titling, examined the legal complexities of the Agua Caliente case, explored the advancement of Indigenous women's rights, and discussed strategies for ensuring meaningful inclusion of individuals with disabilities throughout the land titling process.

The conference concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and partnership. The Indian Law Resource Center left reaffirmed in their commitment to the ILI project and deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Indigenous communities and leaders dedicated to protecting their lands, rights, and people.

Gianella and members of ORPIO Indigenous Women's Leaders program.

Ermeto with indigenous participant from Brasília.

Caroline with Nicole Matthews, Executive Director of Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition.

Holly Henning, Executive Director of Women's Advocates Inc.

Chris Foley, Executive Director of Indian Law Resource Center, speaking at the Conference meet and greet.

Kari Guajajara, Staff Attorney, and Leo Crippa, Senior Attorney, speaking at the Conference meet and greet.

Chris, Brazilian Indigenous man, and Miranda

Chris Foley with a participant and Miranda Carman, Project Operations Manager Indigenous Lands Initiative, at the Conference.

Naiset Perez, Assistant Project Operations Manager, speaking at the Conference.

Melanie Benjamin (ILRC Board of Director), JoAnn Klintz (Attorney), and Caroline at the Conference.

Panelists - "Overlaps Between Indigenous Lands and Third-Party Lands in Guatemala"

Panelists - "Toward the Inclusion of Indigenous People with Disabilities in Land Titling"

Gianella and participant at the Conference

Day 1 Panel of Conference Women's Rights

Day 1 Session - "Land is Safety: Indigenous Women’s Rights, Territorial Sovereignty, and Justice"

Kari with participant at the Conference.

Chris presented with a gift at the Conference

Chris with members from the ORPIO Women's Program. Chris was presented a gift by the two women.

Participants begin their weavings together at the end of Day 1.

Nina Almeida, FUNAI: Diretoria de Demarcação de Terras Indígenas, speaking on the panel, "Overlaps Between Indigenous Lands and Third-Party Lands in the Region"