Stone Soup Leadership Institute

An Indigenous Rebel with a Cause

Lucia Xchiu’s first act of activism came early: when she was four years old she became the first girl to ever take karate lessons in her Indigenous community. When she was older, she founded Festivales Solidarios — a music and art gathering that seeks to protect land defenders and free political prisoners in Guatemala. A lawyer, journalist, activist, and artist, Lucia doesn’t fit into the boxes typically drawn around Indigenous women. Her mission is to support her community through nonviolent activism and awareness building around issues like human rights and climate change.