ThecourtroomwascrowdedinPuyo,Ecuador.NemonteNenquimostoodunderharshlights.Shewaswearingredfacepaintandacrownoffeathers.Threejudgessatin front.
NenquimoisamemberoftheWaoranination.Forcenturies,theWaoranihavelivedintherainforestsofEcuador.Now,theyhadtofightfortheirculture.Thegovernmenthaddivideduptheirland.Theywantedtoauctionitofftooil companies.
NemonteNenquimo isaleaderoftheWaorani nation.
NemonteNenquimoraisesherfistinasignofstrengthatthestartofthecourthearingin Ecuador.
Nenquimohadhelpedhertribefilealawsuit againstthegovernment.TheWaoranihad presentedtheircase.Now,thejudgeswould decide!
ARainforestHome
TheWaoraninationismadeupofabout5,000indigenouspeople.Theyliveon2.5millionacresofrainforest.MostofthelandisinEcuador.Here,morethan
1,500speciesofbird,300speciesofmammal,andmorethan
840speciesofreptilemaketheirhome.Ashunter-gatherers,theWaorani’slivesareconnectedtotherainforest.Weaponsforhuntingaremadefrompeachpalmwood.Traditionalhutsaremadeofpalmleavesandtree trunks.
Waorani Territory
Amazon
Rainforest
Equator
Atlantic
Ocean
Pacific
Ocean
Ecuador
South
America
500 kilometers
500 miles
South
America
North
America
TheWaoraniliveintheAmazon rainforest.
TheWaoranihavealwaysfoughtoffinvaders.ButtheydidnothavemuchcontactwiththeoutsideworlduntilanAmericanmissionarycamein 1958.
Oncecontactwasmade,somethingwasdiscovered.Oil.Theoilwasvaluable.Togetatit,oilcompaniesranroadsandpipelinesintoWaoraniland.Forthemostpart,thiswasdonewithouttheWaorani’s permission.
