Avexnim Cojti Ren
Avexnim Cojti Ren
Avexnim Cojti Ren is an indigenous scholar and professional with technical training in sociology and public administration. She is a Maya calendar keeper for her community and has expertise in multiculturalism, indigenous community development, indigenous rights, and immigration. She is the Director of Programs and Indigenous Community Media Program Manager at Cultural Survival. She is currently a Ph.D. student in Community Development focusing on Indigenous Health Systems at the University of Toronto.
“It is also great to learn that one can help where help is needed” - Avexnim Cojti Ren, 2023.
Avexnim Cojti Ren is from Chuwila, Guatemala, an Indigenous community comprised of 90 smaller communities with a total population of approximately 200,000 people, all Maya K’iche’. She is a Maya calendar ancient knowledge keeper and sociologist from her community. Growing up, she witnessed her mom’s involvement in communal volunteer work to bring water and drainage to the community, where water scarcity is becoming more common. This experience “marked [her] life.”
Cojti attended the Institute of Indigenous Government and Simon Fraser University for her College Diploma in Indigenous Government and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, respectively. She obtained her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Regina, focusing on immigration public policy. Cojti is studying for her doctorate at the University of Toronto, focusing on Indigenous Health Systems in Community Development.
While at the University of Regina, Cojti worked as an Event Planner and Researcher at the Indigenous Peoples Health Centre. After graduating from her MPA program, she worked for the Government of Saskatchewan, first as an Immigration Officer in 2007, assessing immigration applications, and later as a Language Consultant in 2009, where she monitored language program implementation, oversaw budgets, and facilitated trainings and presentations. Cojti then joined Naleb NGO as a Projects Officer in 2011, delivering projects that raised awareness and constitutional rights of indigenous peoples. Her work included meeting with indigenous leaders and political stakeholders to serve the mission and visions of the organization.
In 2016, Cojti joined Cultural Survival as their Indigenous Community Media Grants Project Manager, writing grant proposals and overseeing audits for projects focused on Indigenous communities. She also represented the organization at conferences and international gatherings, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples and the International Funders of Indigenous Peoples. In 2018, she was promoted to Indigenous Community Media Program Manager. As a manager, she has similar responsibilities as her previous role involving grants, managing staff members, organizing fundraisers, establishing partnerships with stakeholders, and evaluating projects based on partner and team feedback. In 2021, while still Program Manager, Cojti took on the additional responsibilities of Director of Programs. In this role, she implements gender policy in programs, supports capacity building, and helps create Programmatic Priorities for the organization. Cojti’s work in strengthening the Indigenous Maya health system through advocacy and support is among her proudest accomplishments when reflecting on her career.
Cojti has had an impactful career advocating for Indigenous rights and self-determination. She represents cultural survival at the United Nations and in international fora meetings. She also hosts a radio show about Indigenous issues at Cultural Survival.
Cojti cites Galina Angarova, the Executive Director at Cultural Survival, as an important mentor. From Angarova, she learned about advocacy strategies for protecting Indigenous rights, especially those on the right to Free, Prior, and Informed consent.
Reflecting on advice she’d give to young professionals considering careers in the field, Cojti states, “Find where to serve. Sometimes we want to find a passion, this is ok. However, it is also great to learn that one can help where help is needed” (2023).
Staff. Cultural Survival. n.d. Retrieved December 2023 from https://www.culturalsurvival.org/about/staff
Avexnim Cojti Ren. LinkedIn. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2023 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/avexnim-cojti-ren-52173869/?originalSubdomain=ca
Survey and interviews conducted by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative staff. 2022-2023. Yale University-School of the Environment. New Haven, Connecticut.