Waoraniwomenleadthemarchtothe court.
InCourt
OnFebruary27,2019,theWaoraniofficiallysuedthegovernmentofEcuador.Theydidnotknowiftheywouldsucceed.But,theyknewtheyhadto try.
OnApril11,2019,hundredsofWaoranipeoplemarchedthroughPuyotothecourthouse.Theyworetraditionalclothesmadeofpalmleaves.Theirfacesandarmswerecoveredwithpaintusedfor battle.
Astheywalked,theysangtheirtraditionalsongs.Theywantedpeopletoseetheirprideintheir culture.
Nenquimofeltlikeawarriorthatday,sherecalled.Insidethecourtroom,theWaoraniandtheirlawyerspresentedtheircase.TheirmapsshowedthejudgestheWaoroni’sbondtotheir land.
TheWaoraniwantedtoprotecttheir land.
NenquimostandswithWaoranileadersinthe courtroom.
TheRuling
OnApril26,onejudgespoke.HesaidthatthegovernmenthadnottriedtounderstandtheWaoraniandtheirculture.TheWaoranihadnotgivenconsent.Theverdict:Thelandwastobeprotected.TheWaoranihad won!
Nenquimoremembersthattheroomwasfilledwithemotionandmusic.Hergrandmotherbegantosingasong.Itcelebratedtheiroriginsintherainforest.Shealsosangofahealthyfuturefortheir children.
Outside,rainbegantopourdown.FortheWaorani,rainhasalwaysbeenasignofvictory.Now,otherindigenouspeoplecouldbringlawsuitsoftheirown,if needed.
AsforNenquimo,herworkgoeson.Herfocusistheeducationofyoungpeople.Shewantstocreatejobs,sotheywillstayonthe land.
Nenquimoandotherleaderscelebratetheircourt victory.
ShewantstoprotectandteachtheWaoranilanguage.ButNenquimoknowsyoungpeoplemustalsolearnthetoolsoftheoutsideworld.Then,theycancarryonthefighttoprotecttheWaorani lands.
