About Us

MODETEAB is a non-profit civic association committed to human principles and values, and citizen participation. Our primary work is human rights advocacy. We work with Ngäbe and Buglé communities in western Panama to defend their rights and ways of life.

Our responsibilities include:

  • Supporting and protecting Indigenous Ngäbe and Buglé communities threatened by illegal land grabs and state-sponsored megaprojects
  • Ensuring the safety of Indigenous land defenders and observing their human rights at protests, marches and official meetings
  • Informing our communities in their own Indigenous languages about their rights under national and international law
  • Carefully documenting land disputes and recording witness testimonies
  • Providing logistics, planning, and support for public meetings and events
  • Raising public awareness about the social and environmental impacts of unsolicited development
  • Advocating for our communities in international fora and utilizing international legal mechanisms such as the Inter-American Human Rights System

Chö Ichigo Guimanimo Kuingobo (Feliciano Santos)

Coordinator

A seasoned Ngabe activist and promoter of Indigenous rights, Chö Ichigo Guimanimo Kuingobo, who is also known by his Spanish name, Feliciano Santos, is the founder and coordinator of the Movement for the Defense of the Territories and Ecosystems of Bocas del Toro (MODETEAB). Since his youth, Chö has attended meetings of the traditional congress of the Ngäbe people, working closely with its highest leader, Cacique Mónico Cruz. Along his journey, he observed a vulnerability in his people, and so he organized several collectives. They ultimately gave life and impetus to MODETEAB, whose aim is to amplify those Indigenous voices demanding respect for territory and life. Chö’s activism was the focus of Paraíso for Sale (2012), an award-winning documentary that exposed illegal land grabs in the tourism hub of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. Cho often collaborates with international allies. He has repeatedly petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) and presented evidence to audiences in Washington DC. He recently founded the Ngäbe Coalition for Food Sovereignty (CONSA).

Malan Trö (Olinda Castrellón Sánchez)

Subcoordinator

Olinda Castrellón Sánchez is the sub-coordinator of MODETEAB. She was first compelled to defend her Indigenous Ngabe community of Valle del Agua after an illegal and violent eviction attempt by the Panamanian authorities. Today, she is focused on the empowerment of Indigenous women, who are frequently on the frontline of land conflicts and rights violations, including those arising from unsolicited, state-sponsored development projects. Leading community-based workshops in environmental and human rights, Olinda’s goal is to support the most vulnerable in Bocas del Toro province, and to plant seeds for the ongoing defence of Ngabe culture and territory. Olinda’s mother tongue is Ngabere, allowing her to effortlessly connect with Ngabe women and elders, and to motivate positive grassroots action.