As we celebrate International Women's Day during Women's History Month, and as we remember the contributions women have made in innumerable and invaluable ways, Nana Barouda Lubafu Isieni (Powerful Spirit in Garifuna) - also known as Cynthia Ellis-Topsey - comes to mind. And that is because so often women make massive contributions that generally go unnoticed globally. Since the 1970's Miss Cynthia has been trailblazing for the intergenerational empowerment of women and youth from the local grassroots level up through CARICOM (including 16 nations) and global politics in general. This mother of 5 children and 17 grandchildren living around the world, has always intentionally and passionately centered Garifuna, Mayan and Indigenous people and their empowerment throughout her life and in her work.
In one 2025 video interview that was recorded by Hopsain, a journalist in Florida, Cynthia mentioned that since she was 4-years-old she knew who she would be when her grandmother told her she "would be a leader in the world." Not fully comprehending at that age she would later come to understood the mission her ancestors set her on - to uplift and celebrate Garifuna people.
From the beginning Miss Cynthia was on a trajectory to that end beginning with her focus on education. Graduating in 1969 with an Honor in Drama from Saint Catherine’s Academy, Belize City, her schooling then took her from studying nursing and anthropology in Kingston, Jamaica to as far the Hague in 1981 to do Post Graduate Research in Gender Studies and Economic Development. On the global stage Ellis-Topsey also broadened her geo-political acumen. In 1991 she then went on to the Rural Development Leadership Network Institute, University California Davis, building strong alliances with colleagues now around the globe.
Speaking with Miss Cynthia recently, we learned that she was a leader of the Women's movement beginning in 1978 when she was influential in setting up the Women's Desk at the Bureau Commission. While she was at the office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica she was able to set the wheels in motion for Belize's inaugural celebration of International Women's Day that included a bustling cultural market. Ellis-Topsey, alongside Diane Haylock (Embassy of Belize) and Cynthia Pitts (former Ombudsman) organized the annual event where she presented the Honorable Louise Bennett-Coverly and Dr. Billie Jean Young in her solo performance honoring Fannie Lou Hamer.
After a fateful meeting with Dr. Billie Jean Young in Antigua where women gathered for Caribbean liberation actions, the initial planning began for bringing the activist and scholar to Belize. Cynthia met Billie Jean on the tarmac upon her arrival. Then Prime Minister Esquivel and his wife hosted Dr. Young where she spoke in front of the Supreme Court building, along with The Minister of Women's Affairs, the Honorable Philip Goldson, in the lead up to her performance at the University of Belize (shown in the photo).
On March 13, 2014. The Embassy of Belize's Facebook page spoke to the event. 'Dr. Billie Jean Young performed her one woman play, "Fannie Lou Hamer: This Little Light..." at the University of Belize. She was OUTSTANDING!
Dr. Young's performance was part of a her week long visit in Belize...While in Belize Dr. Young met with a variety of groups in Belmopan, Belize City, and Dangriga to discuss issues associated with women's empowerment.'
Belize news platform Amandala wrote in 2016: 'Ellis-Topsey pioneered the Belize Rural Women Association with Regina Martinez. She was also among the women who instituted the Belize Organization for Women and Development. Her experience in activism includes her work as CARICOM’s Deputy Programme Manager responsible for Youth, Women and Community Development in 16 countries.
What we are doing is a celebration of elders. We’ve been having conversations with several elders for years about celebrating the contribution of Garifuna people to Belize—and particularly teachers. We built the education system of this country. We need to ensure that that is celebrated or affirmed in collaboration with agencies and individuals interested,” she said, adding that the celebration of teachers is planned for November.'
Federation of Aboriginal Nations of the Americas (FANA)
In her continued advocacy for Indigenous women and their families, Cynthia joined the Federation of Aboriginal Nations of the Americas. Along with women like Felicita Cantun, who started the Indigenous Children's Choir in Belize that sings in the Maya language, they bring awareness to the need to empower women and their communities through this organization through their participation in FANA..
According to History Commons, on August 18, 2023, the Federation of Aboriginal Nations of the Americas (FANA) and the Ambassador At Large for the Garifuna Nation of Belize, signed a Cooperative Agreement as a result of months of communicating. The signing took place during the First Annual Meshanicut Cultural Placemaking Confestival Weekend held on the weekend of August 17th, 2023 in Providence Rhode Island, where a series of historical moments occurred for the member Tribes of FANA and its Allies.
FANA's Minister of International Affairs and UN Ambassador Principal Chief Dr. Ronald Yonaguska Holloway was instrumental in establishing a relationship with the Garifuna Ambassador-At-Large Cynthia Ellis. That relationship was paramount in forging a friendship that resulted in the creation and subsequent signing of the Agreement.
On January 16, 2026, we met Nana Barouda Lubafu Isieni (Cynthia Ellis-Topsey) celebrating her birthday at the Reyna Art Gallery in San Ignacio with Felicita Cantun and Diana Fox, Chair of Anthropology Department at Bridgewater State University, MA. There it was abundantly clear she continues to advocate for Indigenous women globally as she discussed the ongoing projects of FANA and other collaborative projects. We also discussed her loving connection to Leela Vernon - the Queen of Brukdown music - and the importance of sharing her story.
When asked about current and ongoing projects she would like to highlight given the current political climate her response was "financial competency and health and wellness are my main concerns, particularly knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses for Indigenous healing." In addition Lubafu mentions "Food as medicine [coupled with] increased deepening relationships with and knowledge of the earth." She also encourages an "appreciation of changes affected by climate."
Reyna Gallery with Leela Vernon and Andy Palacio portraits
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