Exploring the Innovative Decolonial and Feminist Methods of a Social Activist Icon

By Jessy Flores

Berta Cáceres, a name synonymous with courage and resilience, continues to inspire countless individuals around the world. As an indigenous leader and environmental activist from Honduras, Cáceres dedicated her life to advocating for environmental conservation, indigenous rights, and gender equality. As the Bloomberg podcast relates, Cáceres’ legacy transcends her tragic assassination in 2016, serving as a beacon of hope for justice-seekers worldwide.

Berta Cáceres’ distinct approach, guided by Betasamosake Simpson‘s concept of ‘grounded normativity,’ was deeply rooted in decolonial and feminist principles. Essentially, this means that Cáceres drew inspiration from the customs and wisdom indigenous to specific places, encompassing not only the land but also its waters, plants, animals, and spiritual aspects. As articulated by Annika Björkdahl and Johanna Selimovic, Cáceres’ feminist and decolonizing approaches “produces alternate knowledges and challenges traditional, Western gaze”

With this perspective in mind, how did Cáceres utilize lesser-known methods to drive her impactful activism for change?

Spiritual Resistance and Sacred Activism

Berta Cáceres’ activism was deeply rooted in her spiritual bond with the land and her community. She leaned on indigenous beliefs and teachings to lead her actions and motivate collective resistance. This connection, as described by Smith, challenges Western modernist ideas, calling for a shift away from capitalist, individualistic, and competitive values.

For example, during protests against the Agua Zarca dam, Cáceres led ceremonies where participants offered prayers and performed rituals to protect the river and honor their ancestors. Through sacred activism, Cáceres cultivated a sense of reverence for the Earth and all its inhabitants, underscoring the interconnectedness of environmental and spiritual well-being.

Intergenerational Knowledge Sharing

In her activism, Cáceres emphasized the importance of intergenerational knowledge sharing. In COPINH (Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras), she organized intergenerational gatherings where elders shared stories of resistance and resilience with younger activists. This is what Smith calls, “refreshing Indigenous collectives” and helps not only to preserve cultural heritage but also to inspire and prepare a new generation of leaders to carry forward the struggle for justice while instilling a deep sense of cultural pride and continuity.

Amplifying her voice

A key feminist strategy employed by Berta was the utilization of discourse and storytelling as vehicles for advocacy. As noted by Annika Björkdahl and Johanna Selimovic, conducting a discourse analysis of her speeches offers insights into the narratives she crafted and their influence on environmental and social justice movements. Moreover, as interpreted by Smith, storytelling contributes to the formation of a collective narrative, wherein every Indigenous individual finds representation and validation.

When Berta was granted with the prestigious Golden Award, a significant award in environmental advocacy, she leveraged the platform to disseminate her message to a global audience. This not only amplified her voice but also served as a form of protection, garnering increased visibility and solidarity for her cause amidst mounting threats.

Finding and Seeking Justice

The relentless pursuit of justice for Berta Cáceres’ assassination is a powerful decolonial and feminist method employed by her community. By refusing her voice to be silenced and seeking accountability, they challenge oppressive systems. Inspired by Berta’s work, they achieved the condemnation of eight responsible individuals. As Smith notes, seeking justice for the disappeared, missing, and murdered embodies decolonization and feminism, demanding recognition and accountability for harm inflicted on marginalized communities.

Though unconventional in academic circles, these decolonial and feminist methods were central to Cáceres’ success as a leader and change-maker. By embracing diverse knowledge and expressions, she showed how grassroots activism can empower communities and revive cultural heritage.

As Berta mentions in her acceptance speech of the Golden Award:

“We must shake our conscience free of the rapacious capitalism, racism, and patriarchy that will only assure our own self destruction”.

Let us honor Berta Cáceres by adopting her innovative methods and amplifying marginalized voices, revitalizing traditions, and fostering solidarity worldwide. In doing so, we honor her memory and the ongoing fight for justice and liberation.

Cover photo by @ddcreativohn