Indigenous leader Emonite Nenquimo is convinced that Mother Nature is desperately trying to communicate with us, and we must pay attention. She elaborates, ‘She’s crying. She’s shouting. She’s screaming. She’s saying that I am when the tides are rising, the rivers are rising. There are droughts. And this is my language. This is my alarm to you.’ As a prominent leader of the Waorani people in Ecuador and founder of the Ceibo Alliance and Amazon Frontlines, Nenquimo has dedicated her life to protecting the Amazon from destructive activities such as deforestation and oil extraction.
During her acceptance speech for the TIME Earth Award, she eloquently reminded us of the collective responsibility we have towards our planet. She emphasized, ‘My people are listening so closely to Mother Earth, and they know that Mother Earth isn’t asking that much from us. She’s not asking to be saved. She’s asking something very simple. She’s asking that we respect her.’
Nenquimo’s determination was instrumental in a landmark lawsuit filed in 2019 against the Ecuadorian government. This legal action successfully secured the protection of 500,000 acres of the Amazonian rainforest from oil drilling, setting an important precedent for Indigenous communities nationwide.
Nenquimo firmly believes that substantial progress can only be achieved through collective efforts, involving all members of society, not just those directly affected by the climate crisis. She passionately declared, ‘What gives me hope is being here together with all of you, and knowing that we can fight together. I’m not asking you all to wait for Indigenous people to lead this fight against the climate crisis. What I’m asking is for all of us to join together and battle the climate crisis together. The water, the earth, the air needs our support.’
