October 8, 2024 • 10 mins
Today we dig into the work of environmental and human rights activist Helena Gualinga.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to stuff. Mom never told you a production of
iHeartRadio and y'all, I am back, but alas I am
anyalst today as the podcast guys have decided to throw
(00:28):
us another curveball and have any do her civic duty
as a juror of what I would assume will be
an intense and perhaps material filled trial for her to
report back to us. Yes, as I will say, I
am getting like some texts here and there, and though
I'm not getting any super juicy details, it's obvious I
(00:51):
think she misses us, just so you know. But until then,
we are going to keep trucking and I or we
maybe bring some fun guests along the way. She should
be returning by the following week. And just in case
you were trying to figure it out, yes, I'm recording
on October eighth, twenty twenty four for Today's Feminist Around
(01:14):
the World. Y'all again, Anie will return after she has
completed her task of serving the state of Georgiah, and
we wish her well and hope that she is doing
okay mentally and physically, because we know this could be taxing,
but you know, send her some well wish us y'all.
(01:35):
But for today, I am talking about an amazing woman
who has been officially working to advocate for her community
as well as for us, and we are talking about
indigenous Ecuadorian activists Elena Gualina. So this young activist is
already a pro when it comes to advocacy and activism,
and she comes from an amazing family of activists who've
(01:56):
been influencing her and supporting her all the way. Her mother,
Namiki Linga, is the former president of the indigenous group
Quichwa Women's Association in Ecuador. Her sister Nina is also
a pretty popular and well known environmental indigenous activist, and
her aunt and her grandmother, Patricia and Christina, are well
known within the women's and environmental rights activism in the
(02:18):
Amazons themselves. So she has been watching from a very
young age as her family fought against and was even
persecuted and targeted by large corporations, oil corporations and even
the government, and has watched as activists in their community
get hurt or killed due to the violent conflicts against them.
She's talked about her experience with the WBUR in a
(02:39):
twenty nineteen article, and here's a bit from that quote.
What got me into environmental activism was just living and
growing up in the community. She says, I think that
is activism. That's a sign of resistance. Oil companies have
posted a threat to Wellllinga's community for as long as
she can remember. She says, these companies often do not
consult indigenous communities before in their territory. She says that's
(03:01):
what happened to Sara Yaku her home. The Ecuadorian government
supported oil companies and together they entered the indigenous territory
along with military, she says, to protect their forests. She
says the community had to stand up against these powers,
and she's talked more about what got her started in
advocacy work with Refinery twenty nine for their twenty twenty
feature of her in their article titles Climate Advocate Alna Galinga,
(03:26):
Climate change is not a gen Z issue, She says,
My mom is from a community called Quichua Sara Yaku.
Sara Yaku is a very small indigenous community in the
Ecuadorian Amazon. There are about twelve hundred people there, and
the year I was born, an oil company entered without
my community's consent. So when I was growing up, I
constantly saw all the things that happened to my people,
(03:47):
to the people that said no. It was always part
of my life that people were fighting for our communities.
This was normal for me that someone was trying to
take our home from us. So when I grew up
and I realized that I have a voice, I have
a platform that I can use. English is a very
good tool to have to reach a lot of people.
I think I owe this to my people. That's the
least I can do to help my people, and her
(04:09):
community has been working hard to advocate for their land
and for their people. In fact, in twenty twelve, her
community was able to win a court case against the
Ecuadorian government, helping to establish the activists as a force
to deal with. She talked to CNN in twenty twenty
two a little bit about the significance of the case. Quote,
the Sara Yaku case is a symbol of resistance throughout
(04:31):
my childhood. The leaders of my community, many of whom
our family, were violated, facing defamation, violence, torture, and criminalization
of their defiance. It sparked rage in me and my community.
But when Sara Yaku won, we showed the world that
you can fight big oil because no political or economic
force is powerful enough to exploit land when it's people unite.
(04:54):
Our victory inspired other indigenous peoples protecting their lands and
sends a powerful message to the companies and bank invested
in projects that violate our rights, their time is up.
And then she continues, after living in fear of losing
our homes, my peers and I have followed in our
elder's footsteps in defying the systems that uphold violence against
people and nature. Last month, a youth gathering was held
(05:17):
in Sarayaku, where indigenous youth from across the Ecuadorian and
Peruvian Amazon gathered to discuss the future of our territories
and reaffirm our commitment to protect Kawasaksatcha. Glinga has been
working hard in her advocacy, becoming a spokesperson for her
indigenous community, speaking at the COP twenty five and other
UN events, but she's reluctant to use the word activists
(05:39):
for herself. She explained in that same scene An article
that her activism isn't a choice, but something that has
become a part of indigenous culture, and she went on
to explain why she thinks advocacy for the indigenous community
and for the environment go hand in hand. She says,
I don't identify as an activist because I do not
believe we had a choice. Where I come from, most
(06:01):
of the Amazonian indigenous population would be considered activists. If
Sara Yaku did not put up a fight, our territory
would have been destroyed. It's a matter of survival rather
than acting out of choice. My region, Latin America is
one of the most dangerous places for indigenous people and
land defenders. Our life's work has been to protect our lands.
(06:22):
Our existence is our resistance. The mere existence of people
in the Amazon is what is securing the future of
the Amazon. Does that make us activists know? It's simply
part of who we are and where we come from.
It's the defense mechanism of nature itself. And with that,
she has talked at length about the need to have
(06:42):
indigenous voices in conferences and talks about environmental changes and protections.
She told CNN, our communities have been raising the alarm
bell on the climate crisis as we see the changes
to the environment firsthand. We are on the front lines
of keeping fossil fuels in the ground as we work
to defend our lands as a world is moving away
from fossil fuels is now being replaced by the green
(07:04):
indugery and industry. However, the transition to a green economy
must ensure that it includes indigenous people in decision making
and that it does not repeat the same colonists approach
for the fossil fuels industry. However, the green inenergy industry
is currently not adequately including indigenous people in decision making,
and she goes on to say it's essential that the
(07:26):
indigenous people not only have a say in climate negotiations,
but the discussions are also led by indigenous people, so
that all climate action is guided by climate justice. Indigenous
people have tended ecosystems for thousands of years. The knowledge
we have obtained interacting and coexisting with nature for years
is essential to understand how we will restore and find
(07:49):
balance between humans and nature. To understand this, let's look
at the numbers. Indigenous peoples comprise less than five percent
of the world's population, but we protect eighty percent of
the the Earth's biodiversity in the forest, deserts, grasslands, and
marine environments in which we have lived for centuries. Right,
and she is making sure that she uses her platforms
(08:12):
to continue to elevate Indigenous voices, trying to be a
leader for climate justice because she has to. And in
twenty twenty two, she was featured in the documentary Helena
Sara Yakumanta, documenting her life and activism. And also she's
very much present on her social media using that as
(08:32):
a platform to continue to spread her message. Yeah, she
has done a lot of work. Her entire family has
done so much work in order to protect their community,
our community in the world in general. She is definitely
still on the forefront and the news trying to get
more awareness about what is happening, and has been a
(08:54):
part of the UN as well as different festivals trying
to spread her message. So definitely go and look her up.
Ooh and with that, we miss you Annie. Thank you
to those who are stuck with me doing this alone.
We've been doing these solo sessions a lot. It makes
me sad because again I miss Miyannie. But if you
miss us and want to talk to us, you can
(09:15):
email us at stuff Media Mom Stuff at iHeartMedia dot com.
You can find us on Instagram and TikTok as stuff
Moom Never told you we have a book, you can
find it anywhere, but you know we love a good
independent bookstore. So if you happen to have purchased our
book from an independent bookstore, send us some pictures. We
need those pictures. And then thanks to of course, a
(09:36):
super producer Christina who makes me sound coherent and make
sure I am coherent, Executive producer Maya, and contributor Joey.
And thanks to you, whom we love and are so
thankful for. Stuff. Moom Never Told You is a production
of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Welcome to stuff. Mom never told you a production of
iHeartRadio and y'all, I am back, but alas I am
anyalst today as the podcast guys have decided to throw
(00:28):
us another curveball and have any do her civic duty
as a juror of what I would assume will be
an intense and perhaps material filled trial for her to
report back to us. Yes, as I will say, I
am getting like some texts here and there, and though
I'm not getting any super juicy details, it's obvious I
(00:51):
think she misses us, just so you know. But until then,
we are going to keep trucking and I or we
maybe bring some fun guests along the way. She should
be returning by the following week. And just in case
you were trying to figure it out, yes, I'm recording
on October eighth, twenty twenty four for Today's Feminist Around
(01:14):
the World. Y'all again, Anie will return after she has
completed her task of serving the state of Georgiah, and
we wish her well and hope that she is doing
okay mentally and physically, because we know this could be taxing,
but you know, send her some well wish us y'all.
(01:35):
But for today, I am talking about an amazing woman
who has been officially working to advocate for her community
as well as for us, and we are talking about
indigenous Ecuadorian activists Elena Gualina. So this young activist is
already a pro when it comes to advocacy and activism,
and she comes from an amazing family of activists who've
(01:56):
been influencing her and supporting her all the way. Her mother,
Namiki Linga, is the former president of the indigenous group
Quichwa Women's Association in Ecuador. Her sister Nina is also
a pretty popular and well known environmental indigenous activist, and
her aunt and her grandmother, Patricia and Christina, are well
known within the women's and environmental rights activism in the
(02:18):
Amazons themselves. So she has been watching from a very
young age as her family fought against and was even
persecuted and targeted by large corporations, oil corporations and even
the government, and has watched as activists in their community
get hurt or killed due to the violent conflicts against them.
She's talked about her experience with the WBUR in a
(02:39):
twenty nineteen article, and here's a bit from that quote.
What got me into environmental activism was just living and
growing up in the community. She says, I think that
is activism. That's a sign of resistance. Oil companies have
posted a threat to Wellllinga's community for as long as
she can remember. She says, these companies often do not
consult indigenous communities before in their territory. She says that's
(03:01):
what happened to Sara Yaku her home. The Ecuadorian government
supported oil companies and together they entered the indigenous territory
along with military, she says, to protect their forests. She
says the community had to stand up against these powers,
and she's talked more about what got her started in
advocacy work with Refinery twenty nine for their twenty twenty
feature of her in their article titles Climate Advocate Alna Galinga,
(03:26):
Climate change is not a gen Z issue, She says,
My mom is from a community called Quichua Sara Yaku.
Sara Yaku is a very small indigenous community in the
Ecuadorian Amazon. There are about twelve hundred people there, and
the year I was born, an oil company entered without
my community's consent. So when I was growing up, I
constantly saw all the things that happened to my people,
(03:47):
to the people that said no. It was always part
of my life that people were fighting for our communities.
This was normal for me that someone was trying to
take our home from us. So when I grew up
and I realized that I have a voice, I have
a platform that I can use. English is a very
good tool to have to reach a lot of people.
I think I owe this to my people. That's the
least I can do to help my people, and her
(04:09):
community has been working hard to advocate for their land
and for their people. In fact, in twenty twelve, her
community was able to win a court case against the
Ecuadorian government, helping to establish the activists as a force
to deal with. She talked to CNN in twenty twenty
two a little bit about the significance of the case. Quote,
the Sara Yaku case is a symbol of resistance throughout
(04:31):
my childhood. The leaders of my community, many of whom
our family, were violated, facing defamation, violence, torture, and criminalization
of their defiance. It sparked rage in me and my community.
But when Sara Yaku won, we showed the world that
you can fight big oil because no political or economic
force is powerful enough to exploit land when it's people unite.
(04:54):
Our victory inspired other indigenous peoples protecting their lands and
sends a powerful message to the companies and bank invested
in projects that violate our rights, their time is up.
And then she continues, after living in fear of losing
our homes, my peers and I have followed in our
elder's footsteps in defying the systems that uphold violence against
people and nature. Last month, a youth gathering was held
(05:17):
in Sarayaku, where indigenous youth from across the Ecuadorian and
Peruvian Amazon gathered to discuss the future of our territories
and reaffirm our commitment to protect Kawasaksatcha. Glinga has been
working hard in her advocacy, becoming a spokesperson for her
indigenous community, speaking at the COP twenty five and other
UN events, but she's reluctant to use the word activists
(05:39):
for herself. She explained in that same scene An article
that her activism isn't a choice, but something that has
become a part of indigenous culture, and she went on
to explain why she thinks advocacy for the indigenous community
and for the environment go hand in hand. She says,
I don't identify as an activist because I do not
believe we had a choice. Where I come from, most
(06:01):
of the Amazonian indigenous population would be considered activists. If
Sara Yaku did not put up a fight, our territory
would have been destroyed. It's a matter of survival rather
than acting out of choice. My region, Latin America is
one of the most dangerous places for indigenous people and
land defenders. Our life's work has been to protect our lands.
(06:22):
Our existence is our resistance. The mere existence of people
in the Amazon is what is securing the future of
the Amazon. Does that make us activists know? It's simply
part of who we are and where we come from.
It's the defense mechanism of nature itself. And with that,
she has talked at length about the need to have
(06:42):
indigenous voices in conferences and talks about environmental changes and protections.
She told CNN, our communities have been raising the alarm
bell on the climate crisis as we see the changes
to the environment firsthand. We are on the front lines
of keeping fossil fuels in the ground as we work
to defend our lands as a world is moving away
from fossil fuels is now being replaced by the green
(07:04):
indugery and industry. However, the transition to a green economy
must ensure that it includes indigenous people in decision making
and that it does not repeat the same colonists approach
for the fossil fuels industry. However, the green inenergy industry
is currently not adequately including indigenous people in decision making,
and she goes on to say it's essential that the
(07:26):
indigenous people not only have a say in climate negotiations,
but the discussions are also led by indigenous people, so
that all climate action is guided by climate justice. Indigenous
people have tended ecosystems for thousands of years. The knowledge
we have obtained interacting and coexisting with nature for years
is essential to understand how we will restore and find
(07:49):
balance between humans and nature. To understand this, let's look
at the numbers. Indigenous peoples comprise less than five percent
of the world's population, but we protect eighty percent of
the the Earth's biodiversity in the forest, deserts, grasslands, and
marine environments in which we have lived for centuries. Right,
and she is making sure that she uses her platforms
(08:12):
to continue to elevate Indigenous voices, trying to be a
leader for climate justice because she has to. And in
twenty twenty two, she was featured in the documentary Helena
Sara Yakumanta, documenting her life and activism. And also she's
very much present on her social media using that as
(08:32):
a platform to continue to spread her message. Yeah, she
has done a lot of work. Her entire family has
done so much work in order to protect their community,
our community in the world in general. She is definitely
still on the forefront and the news trying to get
more awareness about what is happening, and has been a
(08:54):
part of the UN as well as different festivals trying
to spread her message. So definitely go and look her up.
Ooh and with that, we miss you Annie. Thank you
to those who are stuck with me doing this alone.
We've been doing these solo sessions a lot. It makes
me sad because again I miss Miyannie. But if you
miss us and want to talk to us, you can
(09:15):
email us at stuff Media Mom Stuff at iHeartMedia dot com.
You can find us on Instagram and TikTok as stuff
Moom Never told you we have a book, you can
find it anywhere, but you know we love a good
independent bookstore. So if you happen to have purchased our
book from an independent bookstore, send us some pictures. We
need those pictures. And then thanks to of course, a
(09:36):
super producer Christina who makes me sound coherent and make
sure I am coherent, Executive producer Maya, and contributor Joey.
And thanks to you, whom we love and are so
thankful for. Stuff. Moom Never Told You is a production
of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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