Nemonte Nenquimo was just 6 years old when she heard the hum of a plane overhead bringing white people to her village in the Amazon. Nenquimo is Indigenous Waorami, and she has spent the last decade of her life fighting the efforts of oil companies to drill her land.
She’s had enormous success: She led a lawsuit against planned oil drilling and won, protecting half a million acres of Amazon rainforest. She helped push for a national referendum to ban oil drilling in Yasuni National Park in Ecuador, which won resoundingly. Her work also set a legal precedent defending Indigenous rights.
This fall, she released a memoir called “We Will Be Jaguars,” chronicling her life story. The book has just been named this month’s pick for actress Reese Witherspoon’s book club. Nenquimo is also continuing to fight Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s efforts to continue oil extraction.
Grist spoke with Nenquimo to learn more about her work. Her answers were translated from Spanish and have been condensed for clarity.
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