Earth Daughters
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering transnational Indigenous women and youth through transformative mutual aid and bold climate justice initiatives.
Dr. Jessica Hernandez (Binnizá/Zapotec & Maya Ch'orti’)
Dr. Jessica Hernandez is a globally recognized Indigenous scientist, climate justice leader, and best-selling author whose groundbreaking work is redefining environmentalism through an Indigenous lens. Rooted in the Pacific Northwest, she bridges Indigenous science, traditional ecological knowledge, and Western frameworks to confront the most urgent environmental crises of our time. She is the founder of Earth Daughters, a transnational Indigenous-led nonprofit dedicated to empowering transnational Indigenous women and youth through transformative mutual aid and bold climate justice initiatives. Dr. Hernandez is the acclaimed author of Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science—a best-selling, award-winning book shaping global policy, academia, and activism. Her forthcoming second book, Growing Papaya Trees: Nurturing Indigenous Roots during Climate Displacement (November 2025), examines climate migration, colonialism, and Indigenous resilience in the face of forced displacement. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental and Forest Sciences, Master of Marine Affairs (MMA), and Master of Science (MS) in Environmental and Forest Sciences from the University of Washington. In recognition of her visionary leadership, Forbes named her one of the “100 Most Powerful and Influential Women in Central America.” Her thought leadership continues to shape global conversations on decolonizing environmentalism and Indigenous science, with her work featured by NPR, Vox, Teen Vogue, Latino USA, Science Friday, and UN News, among others. |
— Dr. Jessica Hernandez, Fresh Banana Leaves"Western science often treats Indigenous knowledge as anecdotal, rather than empirical. But for us, knowledge is lived, tested, and passed down over generations.” |
Books by Dr. Jessica B. Hernandez
Fresh Banana Leaves
Jessica Hernandez introduces Indigenous environmental knowledge and proposes a vision of land stewardship that heals rather than displaces. Through stories of Indigenous Latin American women and land protectors, she redefines conservation and challenges eco-colonialism.
Growing Papaya Trees
In her highly anticipated follow-up, Dr. Hernandez weaves together Indigenous knowledge, environmental science, and family stories to explore the colonial roots of climate catastrophe—and offers an Indigenous, Global South vision for restoration and resilience.
- GROWING PAPAYA TREES by Dr. Jessica Hernandez“This book is dedicated to my ancestors, whose stories went untold and whose stories were denied the right to be told.” |
Earth Daughters
Piña Soul SPC
An Indigenous-led Social Purpose Corporation advancing climate justice and mutual aid for transnational Indigenous women and youth.
G3I Enterprises
An innovative consulting firm committed to transforming STEM through sustainable, equity-driven solutions.
