On December 17, 2025, Russian special services arrested Daria Egereva, a member of the Selkup Indigenous Peoples from the Tomsk region of Russia, on charges of “terrorism.” The next day, the court decided to detain her in custody for two months. Her next hearing is scheduled for the end of February and could deprive her of her freedom for up to 20 years. Egereva is a prominent Indigenous human rights defender and climate activist.

By Sandra Pelaez (CS intern) and Alison Guzman (CS Staff)

By Mathias Tooko (Maasai, CS Fellow)

By Brandi Morin (Cree/Iroquois)

By Lucas Kasosi (Maasai, CS Fellow)

​Each year on February 2, the world observes World Wetlands Day, marking the 1971 adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran. What began as a modest international agreement has grown into a global framework for recognizing the ecological, social, and economic importance of wetlands, ecosystems once dismissed as wastelands, but now understood as essential to life on Earth.

Cultural Survival's community includes people from all walks of life, with beautiful stories to tell of your own about why you decided to become an advocate for Indigenous Peoples' rights. Sharing these stories further connects our community, provides much-needed solidarity and validation to our staff and partners on the ground, and helps us inspire others to join our movement. We are excited to spotlight members and former interns of our community and highlight your contributions and perspectives through our Cultural Survival Spotlight series. 

In October 2025, four Indigenous communities in Guatemala—Maya Kaqchikel de Sumpango, Maya Achí Chicaj, Mam de Cajolá, and Maya Mam de Todos Santos Cuchumatán—submitted an alternative report to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), with support from the Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples Clinic at Suffolk University Law School and Cultural Survival.

By Prabindra Shakya (Newa) and Johnson Jament (Mukkuvar)

The Metals Company (TMC), a Canadian firm at the forefront of deep-sea mining, has rapidly expanded its operations across the Pacific, targeting areas vital to Indigenous and other coastal communities in Asia and the Pacific. Although the TMC is not yet commercially mining the seabed, they are pushing to begin mining aggressively – applying for U.S. permits in 2025 and conducting pilot collections (such as 2,000 tons for Nauru).