Wipala

Women make the world a cooler and more adventurous place to be. Thanks to us, the world has evolved through many inventions and discoveries made in different environments. From creating an underwater telescope and also to find the inner core of the earth, have been some of the works of women that have left their mark on the entire world. Given the injustices and gender violence, the fight continues, there are voices that are not being heard and we must take them into account.

To commemorate our power and resistance, I want to introduce you to 3 women from the indigenous community who have worked to make visible and protect their lands, rights and culture, being the main guardians of the Pachamama.

1. Nina Gualinga

She is an environmental activist from Sarayaku, who raises her voice to protect the Amazon against the oil, logging and mining industries, which are the main causes of climate change, giving out that she also fights for gender violence that occurs as a result of what these industries contribute.

She plays an important role in a movement called Mujeres Amazónicas, which is made up of women from 6 different indigenous communities to fight for a space free of contamination and of violation of indigenous collective rights.

2. Alicia Salazar

She is the director of Ceibo Alliance and comes from the ancestral Siona community. She has always been characterized by her great work in defending the rights of indigenous people and the Amazon, encouraging other women to take the lead, to do the same.

In 2020, the United Nations awarded the Ecuador Prize to the Ceibo Alliance for its wonderful work in developing strategies to fight climate change. 

3. Ene Nenquimo

A Waorani activist and also a member of Alianza Ceibo, her work stands out in training women to lead community projects and initiatives, also joining forces to fight for the same cause that needs to have more visibility. It is also part of the development of strategies within the Alliance to provide effective solutions for the common good. 

As women, we are capable of making the world a better place, we have achieved great things, but let us not forget that the fight continues, today is not a day to celebrate, it is a day to commemorate the fight for equal rights.

Pauli, part of the Wipala tribe