Tikna’oj Brings Traditional Knowledge to Climate Action 

We’re excited to share the stories of some amazing feminist organisations that are making a real difference in advancing climate justice. Over the course of 2025, we’re posting stories about some of our grantee-partners that attended the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference. As we look forward to the next conference, these stories show us how communities most impacted by climate change are also the ones implementing and leading the solutions with lasting impact. 

By Jailan Zayan  

We all want to be seen and heard, not silenced or spoken for. 

That’s why it mattered so deeply when, for the first time, Sara Mux from the Tikna’oj collective stood on the world stage, representing Indigenous communities from Guatemala on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Because even though Indigenous people – especially women and young people – are hit hardest by climate change, they are rarely included in the conversations or decisions about how to address it.  

Mux used this moment to share a powerful message with the world: the traditional knowledge passed down by her ancestors holds key insights for fighting the climate crisis.

“Traditional practices remind us of who we are and where we came from,” she told a global audience at the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference. 

Lives and traditions in danger 

Back home, the urgency of her message is clear. In the Kaqchikel territories of Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez, and Sololá, people are feeling the serious effects of the climate crisis. Farming is being disrupted, food is harder to come by, and plants and animals are disappearing. These changes are putting lives and traditions in danger.  

At the same time, systemic racism and exclusion continue to push Indigenous voices to the margins, especially those of women and young people. Their knowledge is often ignored and generational ties to their culture are being broken.

“We are fighting to be heard in a space that should belong to us,” Mux says.

For the Kaqchikel people, this crisis is about survival. Their ancestral knowledge is at risk of disappearing, and communities are growing more disconnected from their roots. There’s an urgent need to restore traditions and support local leaders in creating solutions that work. 

Sowing knowledge 

This is the heart of Tikna’oj’s mission. Founded in 2011, the collective was created to bring back and reclaim Indigenous practices, strengthen community leadership, and respond to challenges like climate change and food insecurity.  

“Tikna’oj” means “to sow knowledge” in the Kaqchikel language. Using this idea, the collective focuses on practical solutions based on the community’s own knowledge and traditions. Here are some examples of their work: 

Community trojas 

Tikna’oj has brought back the use of trojas, which is a traditional way of storing seeds. The trojas protect native seeds like maize. “For us, maize is life,” says Mux. Keeping these seeds safe helps protect food independence and cultural traditions. 

Medicinal gardens 

In one village, a young woman started a garden to preserve medicinal plants. She teaches children about the healing uses of these plants, helping to keep this knowledge alive. These gardens also help connect people to nature and their roots. 

Preserving traditional knowledge 

In a project called ‘sowing drawings’, young people talk to elders and collect stories and knowledge about traditional farming. These stories help preserve important knowledge and promote intergenerational exchanges that can support communities during the climate crisis. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, these projects became lifelines. They provided food when markets were closed and gave people hope during isolation. Today, these initiatives are still sustaining families while keeping cultural memory and identity strong. 

Flexible support creates lasting impact 

This deep, community-rooted work is what made it so important for Tikna’oj’s voice to be heard globally. With support from Mama Cash, Mux was able to attend the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference and share Tikna’oj’s vision on a global stage. This opportunity also helped her build important relationships and connect with people who could support their work. 

“I’ve met people from funding organisations who might come and help strengthen the work we do at Tikna’oj,” Mux said. “We believe they can also contribute and support us.”  

At the conference, Mux shared lessons from Tikna’oj’s work in their region and learned from others doing similar work around the world. These conversations helped uncover common challenges and sparked ideas for future collaboration. 

Mama Cash’s support goes far beyond one event. Our flexible funding also strengthens Tikna’oj’s efforts at home. Unlike many traditional funders, Mama Cash respects the group’s autonomy and lets them decide how to use the support.

“Mama Cash has strengthened us through our own autonomy,” Mux said. “We are the ones who know what our needs and priorities are.”

Thanks to this support, Tikna’oj has been able to grow their sowing method, train more community leaders, develop their gardens, and preserve their knowledge through books, storytelling, and in other creative ways. 

Keep the momentum going 

Mux’s participation at the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference was a powerful step forward, but it’s not enough. Indigenous women, youth, and grassroots leaders need a place at the table where decisions about the climate crisis are made.  

As the world turns its focus to the next climate conference set to take place in Brazil in November, Mux and Tikna’oj are continuing their work. They are building connections, sharing ideas, and showing why Indigenous women leadership is key to tackling the climate crisis.

Local women-led organisations like Tikna’oj are leading scalable, community-based climate solutions rooted in traditional knowledge.

But they’re often left out when it comes to traditional climate finance. Most funding is channelled through large, multilateral institutions, which makes it hard for smaller, local groups to get the support they need. By prioritising large-scale projects, funders overlook the powerful work these groups are already doing. 

Climate justice and cultural preservation need long-term funding. That starts with trusting the expertise of those most affected. You can help make this happen. Support the women of Tikna’oj by donating today. 

Find more stories about Mama Cash partners working on climate justice, ahead of the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference, here.