Empowering Indigenous Women Globally
UAN Women is the UAN organization delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold Indigenous women’s sacred rights and ancestral authority, ensuring that every Indigenous woman and girl lives up to her full potential as a wisdom keeper, earth guardian, and spiritual leader. We focus on issues that unlock progress on gender equality.
Our Focus Areas
Leadership and Political Participation
UAN amplifies Indigenous women’s ancestral governance wisdom and traditional leadership roles in decision-making processes globally.
Economic Empowerment
UAN supports Indigenous women’s economic sovereignty through traditional knowledge systems, sustainable resource management, and cultural enterprise development.
Ending Violence Against Women
UAN addresses violence against Indigenous women through traditional healing practices, community-based protection systems, and ancestral justice frameworks.
Peace and Security
UAN promotes Indigenous women’s roles as traditional peacemakers and conflict mediators using ancient diplomatic practices and spiritual guidance.
Humanitarian Action
UAN mobilizes Indigenous women’s traditional care systems and community resilience practices during crises and natural disasters.
Governance and National Planning
UAN integrates Indigenous women’s traditional governance models and ancestral planning wisdom into modern policy frameworks.
Youth
UAN supports Indigenous young women in preserving cultural knowledge while developing contemporary leadership skills rooted in ancestral teachings.
Women and Girls with Disabilities
UAN honors Indigenous perspectives on disability as spiritual gifts while ensuring traditional healing and community support systems.
Sustainable Development
UAN centers Indigenous women’s environmental stewardship knowledge and traditional ecological practices in sustainable development initiatives.
About UAN Women
UAN Women is the United Ancient Nations entity dedicated to indigenous gender balance and ancestral feminine wisdom, championing indigenous women as knowledge keepers, earth guardians, and community leaders.
Supporting UAN Member Nations in restoring traditional gender balance through ancestral governance systems, UAN Women works with indigenous councils and women’s societies to ensure traditional feminine leadership roles benefit indigenous women and girls globally.
Guided by the 6 Pillars of Global Enlightenment, it focuses on four strategic priorities: Indigenous women leading in traditional governance systems; maintaining economic sovereignty through cultural practices and land rights; living free from violence through sacred feminine protection protocols; and contributing traditional peacemaking wisdom to environmental protection and community resilience.
Historical Perspective
For many years, Indigenous communities worldwide faced serious challenges in their efforts to maintain traditional gender balance and women’s empowerment, including the disruption of matriarchal systems, loss of traditional women’s ceremonies, and inadequate recognition of women’s roles in cultural preservation.
The United Ancient Nations General Assembly created UAN Women, the United Ancient Nations Entity for Indigenous Women’s Empowerment and Cultural Restoration, to address such challenges.
The creation of UAN Women came about as part of the UAN’s holistic approach to Indigenous rights, bringing together resources and traditional knowledge systems for greater impact.
Core Principles and Approach
Cultural Restoration
Restoring traditional roles and status of Indigenous women in their communities, including leadership positions, ceremonial responsibilities, and knowledge-keeper roles.
Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer
Supporting the transmission of traditional knowledge from Indigenous grandmothers and elders to younger generations of women and girls.
Holistic Wellness
Addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Indigenous women and girls through culturally appropriate approaches.
Land and Resource Rights
Recognizing Indigenous women’s traditional relationships with ancestral lands and their roles as environmental stewards.
Language and Cultural Preservation
Supporting Indigenous women as primary transmitters of traditional languages and cultural practices.
Economic Empowerment
Combining traditional economic practices with contemporary opportunities while respecting cultural values.
Global Impact and Partnerships
UAN Women works in partnership with:
- Traditional Women’s Councils from Indigenous communities worldwide
- Indigenous Women’s Organizations at local, national, and international levels
- Cultural Preservation Societies focused on women’s traditional knowledge
- Indigenous Educational Institutions supporting women’s and girls’ education
- Environmental Organizations recognizing women’s roles in traditional ecological knowledge
- International Bodies including UN Women, Indigenous rights organizations, and cultural preservation groups
Through these partnerships, UAN Women ensures that Indigenous women’s voices are heard in global discussions on gender equality, environmental protection, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.
Looking Forward
UAN Women envisions a world where Indigenous women and girls:
- Lead and participate fully in both traditional and contemporary governance
- Preserve and transmit ancestral knowledge and cultural practices
- Enjoy economic security through both traditional and modern livelihood opportunities
- Live free from violence while maintaining cultural identity and connection to community
- Contribute to global solutions for environmental and social challenges through traditional wisdom
- Are recognized and valued for their vital roles in cultural continuity and community resilience
Accountability at UAN Women
UAN Women is committed to independent oversight rooted in Indigenous governance principles to improve operational effectiveness while advancing women’s leadership within ancient nations. Several oversight bodies, guided by traditional accountability systems and the 6 Pillars of Global Enlightenment, enhance governance, risk management and compliance processes.
Independent Evaluation
Audit and Investigation Services grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems
Board of Auditors
Indigenous financial experts and traditional resource stewards
Ethics Advisor
Independent resource promoting ethical organizational culture based on Indigenous values
Advisory Committee
Indigenous elders, traditional governance experts, and cultural delegates