The challenge for indigenous people in Costa Rica is not just regaining control of their land but also sustaining themselves and their environment. Like other countries, Costa Rica has laws protecting indigenous people. Ixacavaa is working with indigenous leaders on a plan to manage their territory. The indigenous people are taking inventory of their resources, such as the total size of the land, amount of forested land, amount of food produced locally and the potential for growing more food.
Food security is a top priority.
The five-year goal is to have each family grow enough food for itself and to teach the young to use traditional forms of agriculture. The Board of Global Ministries has a Global Justice Volunteer, Mary Miller of Wisconsin, working with Ixacavaa in Costa Rica. The United Methodist Church's new media campaign is igniting the passion of people across the denomination to learn how to make their local congregations more welcoming. Igniting Ministry officials had hoped that at least 100 people would register for each training event. That goal has been surpassed with the first three training sessions this month, which have drawn 1,429 registrations.