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.