Historic decisions bring hope to indigenous groups in Ecuador

The population in Ecuador’s Amazon region is over 70 percent indigenous. And, like in all of the eight countries that make up the massive basin, these traditional communities have come under persistent threat from private business interests and loosened legal protections.

However, while the situation may be bleak elsewhere, Ecuador’s indigenous people have already managed two massive victories this year. In February, the country’s constitutional court handed down a historic ruling giving these traditionally marginalized groups more agency over their land, making it mandatory for indigenous communities to be consulted before mining or other extractivist projects can be set up in Ecuador’s Amazon.

And on March 10, another win. By 99 votes out of 125, Ecuador’s National Assembly approved the amnesty of 268 people, mostly indigenous activists who had been prosecuted for attending social and pro-environment protests. Among them was Leonidas Iza, president of the influential Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE).

Both decisions have had massive impacts, both in political and environmental terms. 

Studies show that 370 of...