How Loria Raquel Dixon Brautigam Became the First Black Voice in Nicaragua’s National Assembly and Advocated for Indigenous and Ethnic Communities

A Historic Election in Nicaragua

Loria Raquel Dixon Brautigam made history in 2006. That year, she became the first Black person elected to the Nicaraguan National Assembly. She represented the North Atlantic Autonomous Region, a culturally rich and diverse part of the country.

Her election was significant because no other Black leader had held this position before. It opened new doors for representation of Black, Indigenous, and ethnic communities in the national government.

Advocating for Indigenous and Ethnic Rights

Since joining the National Assembly, Brautigam has taken on roles that focus on social justice and equality. She serves as the First Vice President for the Ethnic Affairs, Autonomy Regimes, and Indigenous Communities Commission. This role allows her to protect the rights and voices of minority groups in Nicaragua.

She also works as the Second Vice President for the Health and Social Security Commission. In these positions, Brautigam fights for fair healthcare, social services, and cultural autonomy for marginalized communities.

Early Career in Healthcare and Business

Before stepping into politics, Brautigam worked as a nurse. She served communities in Bilwiskana and Río Coco and later became director of the Unidad Policlínica de Puerto Cabeza y Enfermera. From 1978 to 1990, she focused on providing healthcare to underserved areas.

In 1996, Brautigam earned a business degree from Universidad Centroamericana in El Salvador. She then managed her family’s business, which operated gas stations in Bluefields and nearby towns.

Rising Within the Sandinista Party

Brautigam’s political career began in 1983 when she joined the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN), or Sandinistas. This socialist political party played a major role in shaping Nicaragua’s modern history.

By 1987, she had gained prominence within the party’s leadership in the North Atlantic region. Her work with Mor de Mujeres, a women’s rights group, also earned her local and national recognition.

The Sandinistas’ Influence in Nicaraguan Politics

The Sandinistas, formed in 1961, started as a revolutionary group. In 1979, they successfully overthrew Nicaragua’s government. Daniel Ortega, the party’s leader, won the presidential election in 1984 and returned to power in 2006.

Brautigam’s 2006 election to the National Assembly coincided with Ortega’s comeback. Together with other Sandinistas, she worked to reshape national policies and advocate for marginalized voices.

En la Sesión Especial en Conmemoración al Día Internacional de la #MujerVictoriosa, la diputada Loria Raquel Dixon Brautigam, primera secretaria de la AN, en representación de las mujeres de la Costa Caribe nicaragüense, saluda a las mujeres y recordó a las heroicas mujeres. pic.twitter.com/jBjWh5eKHq

— Canal Parlamentario Nicaragua (@cparlamentonic) March 8, 2021