pachamama

I first met Rosalia a couple of years ago at an environmental demo in front of City Hall in Toronto.  She and two other  indigenous women from South American women were holding a Wipala, the flag I came to know as a symbol of the struggle in Bolivia.  As I was speaking, I talked about the meaning of the Wipala .  They were delighted that I knew what it was and came to talk to me afterwards.  Later we worked together in the Toronto Bolivia Solidarity and always had warm sisterly relationship.  Below very near her death, she is at a small rally to honour the Stolen Sisters, aboriginal women murdered and disappeared in Canada.  She was an amazing activist in many ways.  Most powerfully she always brought an indigenous feminist perspective to all our events, explaining the deeper meaning of whatever we were discussing.  She fully participating in the struggles she found in her adopted country as well as organzing solidarity with the struggles in Latin America.  She brought a wisdom and richness to our events that will be greatly missed. She was an extraordinary woman.