Indonesian activist, Rukka Sombolinggi believes the key to confronting the climate crisis is to unite and mobilize the Indigenous communities who are often impacted the most. Now, as the first female general secretary of the world’s largest Indigenous Peoples organization, she has the power to do just that. But the challenge is monumental.

One October thousands traveled from across the island nation of Indonesia to attend one of the largest gatherings of Indigenous Peoples in the world. Whether arriving by open-air trucks, boat or even by foot the AMAN congress, led by Rukka, drew thousands of people across the Indonesian archipelago and its 17,000 islands.

Using a process of “deliberative democracy” the Congress prioritizes finding solutions through consensus so that no groups are left out. This unique process resulted in 32 resolutions, uniting the voices of over 20,000 indigenous communities to address land rights, economic dealings, environmental issues, and the criminalization of Indigenous Peoples across the archipelago.

This is a story about the democratic process, defiance and dignity in the face of climate catastrophe.