Wan taura wap!–Let us go forward!

Hazel María Law Blanco was born in the municipality of Waspán, in the Autonomous Region of The Northern Atlantic, Nicaragua. Since she was 16 years old, she has fought against racial discrimination. She is a defender of human rights for the indigenous communities and a promoter of equality between men and women. As a member of the National Parliament, in 1990, she achieved the passing of the Autonomy Law, which recognizes the historical rights of the indigenous people and communities to the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua.

“As a native, I was excluded from education, and, as woman, I was limited to doing the housework.” Hazel María Law Blanco, Mískita, born in the municipality of Waspán, in the Autonomous Region of The Northern Atlantic, which borders with Honduras, decided to challenge the established order. She studied hard. She completed her secondary studies and, in 1980, received a degree in Education (with mention in Spanish and Literature) in the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua. In 1993, she obtained a degree in Law. “Hearing teachers say that the Mískitos were ignorant, has always had an impact on me. But, when I worked as a teacher, I was able to observe the students' response. The ignorants were the teachers that did not teach using the right method.” Her organizational work began in the 1970s, fighting for the legalization of the lands of the indigenous communities and also for education to be offered in the native language of the Atlantic Region. With the triumph of the Sandinist Popular Revolution in 1979, she had the opportunity to make her dream come true: in 1980, a literacy crusade for indigenous languages took place in the Nicaraguan Caribbean region. This historic event was also a personal success for Hazel. “We began to teach a group of ladies from Waspán to read and write.” In 1990, as a member of the National Parliament, Hazel achieved the passing of the Autonomy Law, which recognized the historical rights of the indigenous people and communities of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua.

Yatama Prinsu Association Civil Coordination of Bilwi