Julia Cañari

Salinas Grandes, Jujuy, Argentina

Julia Cañari is a 55-year-old Indigenous woman from the Pozo Colorado Aboriginal community in Salinas Grandes, Jujuy, Argentina. A retired mother and respected land and water defender, she is deeply committed to the rights, dignity, and ancestral culture of her people. Julia is a leading figure in collective care, a guardian of territory, and a strong advocate for justice for Indigenous communities. Grateful to Pachamama, she works for the well-being of her people and the protection of their land.

Through her ORA project, Indigenous Ecotourism in Pozo Colorado, Julia is advancing a community-led model of sustainable development rooted in cultural preservation and environmental stewardship. The project aims to strengthen the local community museum, create a small cabin and dining space for visitors, and promote Indigenous ecotourism that honors ancestral traditions and respects the natural environment.

In a region increasingly threatened by lithium extraction, Julia’s work seeks to generate employment for youth and women, protect cultural heritage, and resist extractivism through education and communication strategies that affirm Indigenous identity and connection to the land.

Learn more at pozocolorado.org or follow @trcom.jujuy on Instagram.