Looking back at Haitian history, we recognize that resistance did not begin with the Revolution. Long before that milestone, indigenous women were already defending -from the depths of their roots- dignity, freedom and territory. These women were not mere observers; on the contrary, they became active architects of emancipation. They faced not only colonial oppression, but also the power structures that excluded and underestimated them.
This text presents some of those women who, today, are moral and vital pillars in Haitian society, highlighting only a few of the many who have existed and continue to leave their mark.
Anacaona, the Taino leader and poet, embodies the seed of the struggle that challenged Spanish colonization. Her resistance and subsequent execution in 1503 remind us that dreams of a land free of oppression were already beating in the hearts of the Indigenous Peoples. Anacaona is a symbol of that first great struggle, which would resonate centuries later in the Haitian Revolution, marking a before and after in history.
With that same emancipatory force, Cecile Fatiman was fundamental in the revolutionary process that culminated in 1804. As a priestess, she took part in the ceremony at Bois Caïman, where the spiritual spark that would start the insurrection of 1791 was lit. That night, the rebellion was not only a political act; it was also a spiritual act, in which women, in their role as guardians of culture, channeled the forces that would make independence possible. They showed the world that struggles for liberation cannot be separated from the soul and memory of a people.
Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére was a Haitian soldier and nurse famous not only for her bravery, but also for her knowledge and strategy on the battlefield. Wearing the men’s uniform and fighting alongside the men, she was highly respected. Lamartiniére played a key role in the great Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot in 1802 against French forces.
Imagen tomada de: FOKYOLA. (2021). Marie-Jeanne Lamartinière: femme, héroïne et symbole de liberté.
Recuperado de: https://fokyola.ht/blog/2021/11/marie-jeanne-lamartiniere/.
Similarly, Marie-Claire Heureuse, Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ partner, teaches us that freedom is not only forged on the battlefield, but also in everyday acts of care and solidarity. Her commitment to equality and her struggle from a human perspective make her a symbol of everyday resistance, the kind that is woven into daily life, which fuels transformation through the small and large gestures that sustain the community.
Suzanne Sanité Bélair, who also took up arms, shows us the courage of those who are not afraid to confront oppressive power. Her role in the decisive battles against the French consecrated her as one of the great heroines of the Revolution. Bélair is famous for refusing to be blindfolded before being executed along with her husband by the French. Her participation is a testament to the courage of Haitian women, who fought tirelessly for a future where justice and freedom were non-negotiable rights.
Along the same lines, we find Victoria Montou, another great military figure. Her leadership on the battlefield is further proof that women not only accompanied the struggles, but led them. She, like so many others, understood that independence was the first step towards building a truly free nation, where internal oppressions also had to be confronted and overthrown.
No less important is Catherine Flon, who, in a symbolic act of great power, made the first Haitian flag. In the Arcahaie ceremony, by sewing the flag, she also sewed the hope of a people who refused to be enslaved. In this gesture, Haitian women remind us that every stitch, every action, is part of a process of collective creation that sustains the struggles for freedom.
Finally, in contemporary struggles, the legacy of these women resonates in figures such as Yvonne Rimpel, a tireless activist who worked for women’s rights and social justice. Her life is a testimony that resistance did not end with independence, but was transformed into the constant search for equity in the oppressive realities that persist.
Likewise, Marie Clotilde ‘Toto’ Bissainthe, a committed artist, used her voice and her music to root the memory of her struggle in the Haitian people. In her artistic expressions we find another form of resistance, where culture becomes a battlefield for identity and freedom.
In each of these women, we are told the living history of a people who have never stopped resisting, dreaming, and collectively building their liberation. Their actions challenge us: How do we continue today on this path toward a more just society? How do we recognize the power of women as a driving force for transformation in all areas? This article not only highlights their struggles, but invites us to think of education as a practice of freedom, in which all of us, especially women, are active protagonists of the history we are creating.