Este Orantes Migoya

Este (they/them) comes from a lineage of strong and resilient women and is the youngest of three siblings. Born in Ixim Ulew (Guatemala), Este and their family were displaced to Tkaronto as political refugees in the mid 1990s. These experiences lay the foreground for deep commitments to grassroots and community work, and nourished their two decades of experience working in social and environmental justice issues in Turtle Island and across Abya Yala.

They hold an MA in sociocultural anthropology with a collaborative specialization in development policy & power. Their PhD research focuses on historic memory and the defence of territory, exploring the various forms of violence facing social and biological communities along the central corridor from Mexico to Colombia as the deadliest place on earth for land and environmental defenders. Este’s research pursuits focus on highlighting the stakes of possibility embodied in defiance and resistance to violence as a social imperative. Complimenting their research is ongoing grassroots organizing and collaborations with community-led projects in Turtle Island, the highlands of Ixim Ulew, and the Pacific Coast of the Chocó region (Colombia).

In addition to their PhD work, Este is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor for the M.S.W program at the Smith College School of Social Work. Their courses focus on social theory, research methods for advancing racial and social justice, and integrating environmental justice into social work practice.