Lourdes Escalante (Yoeme) was born and raised in Tucson and is the Executive Director of the Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras, Indigenous Alliance Without Borders (AISF). At a young age Lourdes pushed herself, with the support of her dad, to take opportunities for growth, which also meant a greater chance for success while also finding it in unfamiliar places. South Tucson was always home, and still is; it’s a place that is rooted in the work she does today working for a community that focuses on protecting indigenous rights, educating, and promoting action when those rights are threated and/or violated. Lourdes’ community work helps bring people of all walks of life together to learn from one another, provide space for individuals and groups that supports their work, and being a resource for Native/Indigenous folks. Her work is also shaped and defined by a great team of people, volunteers, community, and partnerships. A term I learned from Lourdes during our interview was, “Rematriation,” which is a word used to describe how indigenous women are restoring balance to the world by intertwining traditional and cultural knowledge back in accord with the land. This leads towards steps of healing ourselves and the natural world.
