“I believe that conservation is one of the responsibilities that needs to be carried by all humans on earth. As Indigenous woman I am continuing my ancestors’ fight to protect and care for our land. I see myself as a bridge to better solutions. We are a people who lost some of our identity to colonialism, but by keeping the land intact, and rediscovering our roles as humans, we can reclaim our knowledge and our ways of being that make us natural stewards of the land.”

— Nayla Azmi

Nayla Azmi is a Batak woman born and raised on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Nayla is a storyteller, educator, translator and conservationist. She has been active in the conservation space for the past 7 years, mainly in elephant and orangutan conservation. She holds a Master of English literature. She is passionate about reclaiming her Indigenous roots and culture, and about sharing her knowledge with others.