Cultural Survival

Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience since 1972.

Cultural Survival envisions a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance.

Since 1972, Cultural Survival has partnered with Indigenous communities to advance Indigenous Peoples' rights and cultures worldwide.

The core of our efforts rest on the principles of supporting, amplifying efforts and raising awareness of self-determination for Indigenous communities.

Cultural Survival employs a participatory, rights-based approach to our relationships that respects and strengthens Indigenous rights while honoring traditional Indigenous worldviews and lifeways.

Our programs work to inform, create resources for, support access to information, bolster freedom of expression, and assist Indigenous communities to organize and shape their futures in ways consistent with their traditions, languages, cultures.

We publicize Indigenous Peoples' issues through our award-winning Cultural Survival Quarterly; we mount on the ground campaigns and other advocacy efforts to stop environmental destruction and abuses of Indigenous Peoples' rights, always at the community’s invitation.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, we have staff based in Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nepal, Canada, and South Africa.

Cultural Survival also holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic Social and Cultural Council since 2005.