Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

In a recent lecture at St. John’s University, Quechua-born activist Tarcila Rivera Zea highlighted the challenges faced by the indigenous Quechua people of Peru due to climate change. Rivera Zea emphasized the necessity for the Quechua people to push back against environmental change, stating, “The solutions offered were not appropriate for the environment in which we live.” She added, “We began to see indigenous knowledge as a possible solution.”

The Quechua people, scattered among the Andes Mountains and along the Amazon River, rely on subsistence farming for their livelihood. Changes in rainfall patterns, drought, and rising temperatures pose significant threats to their crops, leading to vulnerability after two decades of unpredictable weather.

Julia Bonanno, a doctoral student at St. John’s University, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the challenges faced by the Quechua people, stating, “If we can raise awareness about this and other things, maybe we can make some good things happen for them.”

Rivera Zea also discussed how climate change has compromised the health and social practices of the Quechuans, potentially leading to tension in the community. She highlighted the importance of access to funds for indigenous people, noting that despite grants from the Green Climate Fund, the money does not always reach the local population.

Pablo Sanchez, an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s College, emphasized the value of learning from the Quechua people's knowledge and adaptation strategies, stating, “We stand to learn a great deal from their knowledge and how they have applied it.”

The lecture series at St. John’s University, titled “Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor,” sheds light on the disproportionate impact of climate change on disadvantaged communities worldwide. The discussion on the challenges faced by the Quechua people serves as a reminder of the urgent need for action to address environmental justice issues affecting indigenous populations.