Waoraniwomenleadthemarchtothe court.
InCourt
OnApril11,2019,hundredsofWaoranipeoplemarchedthroughthestreetsofPuyoontheirwaytothecourthouseforthestartofthecourtcase.Theyworetraditionalclothesmadeofpalmleaves.Theirfacesandarmswereadornedwithpaintusedforbattleandspecialoccasions.Theycarriedspearsandleavesfromthe rainforest.
Astheywalked,theysangtheirtraditionalsongs.Theywantedpeopletoseetheirprideintheirculture.Nenquimowalkedatthefront,herarmslinkedwithotherwomen.ShewasveryproudtobeaWaoraniwoman.Shefeltlikeawarriorthatday,sherememberedlater.Herfacepaint,thetraditionalcrownonherhead,andthepapersinherhandwereher weapons.
Insidethecourtroom,theWaoraniandtheirlawyerspresentedtheircasetothreejudges.Nenquimostoodupinfrontofthejudges.Hergrandmotherstoodbesideher.Theirspokespersonpresentedtheir maps.
ThemapswouldhelpthejudgesunderstandtheWaorani’srelationshiptotheirland.Overthenexttwoweeks,elderswouldgivetestimony.Proofoftheoilpollutionintheforestwouldbe presented.
TheWaoraniwanttoprotecttheir land.
NenquimostandswithWaoranileadersinthe courtroom.
TheRuling
OnApril26,thejudgeswerereadytoannouncetheirdecision.Nenquimoheldhergrandmother’shandtightly.Forfivehours,thejudgespoke.HesaidthatthegovernmenthadnottriedtounderstandtheWaoraniandtheirculture.ThemeetingthegovernmenthadwiththeWaoraniduringtheirshort2012visitwasnotenoughfortheWaoranitogivetheirfreeconsenttotheauctioningofthe lands.
Thejudgegavetheverdict:Thelandwastobeprotected.TheWaoranihadwontheirlawsuit.Theirlandwouldnotbeauctionedtotheoilcompanies.Insidethecourtroom,theWaoraniburstinto song.
Nenquimoremembersthattheroomwasfilledwithemotionandmusic.Hergrandmotherbegantosingasongcelebratingtheiroriginsintherainforestandtheirjoyatahealthyfuturefor
their children.
Outside,theyparadedthroughthestreets.Rainbegantopourdown.FortheWaorani,rainhasalwaysbeenasignthatnaturewascelebratingawarvictory.NaturegivestheWaoranistrength,Nenquimosays,andnaturewashappyforthemthat day.
Nenquimoandotherleaderscelebratetheircourt victory.
Therulingcreatedaprecedent,oneoftheWaorani’slawyerssaid.OtherindigenousAmazonianpeoplecouldusethiscaseasanexampleiftheywantedtobringlawsuitsoftheirown.Itwasagreatvictory,butNenquimo’sworkisnotdone.SheisnowfocusingontheeducationoftheWaoranichildren.“Letthechildrenlearnfromtheirculture,fromtheirrootsandlanguage,andletthemmaintaintheconnectiontotherainforest,”Nenquimo says.
Shewantstocreatejobsintheircommunities,soyoungpeoplewillstayontheland.ShewantstoprotectandteachtheWaoranilanguage.Atthesametime,Nenquimo knowsyoungpeoplemustalsolearnthetoolsoftheoutsideworld.Thatway,theycancarryonthefighttoprotecttheWaoranilandsandculture,justasshehas done.
