Carol

I am an Indigenous academic and scientist dedicated to researching the effects of climate change on health and food systems. My experience comes from my work as a primary healthcare physician in the Peruvian Amazon, my training in tropical and infectious diseases in Lima, Peru, and my PhD in health geography in Canada. My work has contributed to uncovering the mechanisms through which climate change impacts the health of Indigenous peoples in Peru and other regions of the world. Recently, I have researched how Indigenous communities have protected their health and food security in the face of COVID-19 and climatic events, and the role of food biodiversity in their adaptation to climate change. Additionally, I am a member of several international scientific committees related to health, food systems, and Indigenous knowledge, including the Lancet Commission on Sustainable Health Care (LCSH), Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-7) of UNEP, and the Global Hub of Indigenous Peoples´Food Systems of FAO.

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I am committed to building a strong research network, and at the same time, I want to improve my international leadership skills in research. To achieve this, I collaborate with Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers from various countries who share my dedication to food and nutritional security, the construction of an equitable and intercultural health system, climate crisis response, and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge. For me, leadership in research involves making tangible changes that benefit the communities where research is conducted while inspiring other Indigenous women to lead their own paths in research.

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The historical social exclusion that Indigenous communities have experienced has had serious repercussions on the health of our families. The lack of opportunities to maintain and protect Indigenous ways of life has led many families in my region to disintegrate. In pursuit of accessing a “formal” education and securing a “dignified” job, my grandparents and parents migrated, losing their lands, their homes, and their Indigenous language. Fortunately, this path of formal education, which was so important to my grandparents, has now allowed me to reconnect with my Indigenous roots and rediscover the ancestral knowledge of my family. This reconnection has re-established my bond with Mother Nature, the Creator, the Mother of the Forest, and my grandparents.