Cultural Survival's community includes people from all walks of life, with beautiful stories about why they decided to become advocates 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.
Are you a former Cultural Survival intern or a passionate member of our community? We'd be honored to hear and share your story!
Marisa Raya, Cultural Survival Former Intern (1997/98)
When were you a Cultural Survival intern, and what program did you work with?
I was a volunteer intern in 1997 or 1998 and wrote an article for the Cultural Survival Quarterly on island nations and climate change. It was the first time I had seen reporting on the possibility that people would lose their land base due to sea level rise.
Where are you currently in your career, and how do you see your internship experience connecting to your present work?
At the time, I was studying Anthropology in college, and I appreciated that Cultural Survival's founders saw themselves as partners and activists with communities, rather than as distant observers or academics. I later volunteered for Tzotzil and Tzetzil communities in Chiapas and currently research land reparations, rematriations, and land use planning in the US. I work primarily in planning and economic development, still emphasizing community autonomy and livelihoods. [Connect with Marisa on LinkedIn.]
Do you have a particularly memorable moment, interaction, or experience from your internship that had a lasting impact on you?
The above article and the relaxed atmosphere of the Harvard Square office are my primary memories - it was more than 25 years ago!
Is there anything else you would like to share about your intern experience or insights for future Cultural Survival interns?
I admire how Cultural Survival transitioned to Indigenous leadership and hope more organizations follow their lead.
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