Nina Gualinga
Co-director & Spokesperson, Mujeres Amazónicas Defensoras de La Selva
Nina, from the Sarayaku People in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is a leading advocate for Indigenous rights and climate justice. Sarayaku is known for its landmark victory against the Ecuadorian government and oil companies, setting a legal precedent for Indigenous rights throughout Latin America.
Nina’s advocacy extends to global forums, including high-level UN Conferences, where she consistently champions the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the urgent need for climate action. She has co-led numerous impact campaigns, most notably the #SíAlYasuní international campaign. Her efforts contributed to a historic moment in Ecuador when the nation voted in a referendum to permanently ban oil exploitation in Yasuní. Nina also co-led the #PanamaTeQuieroVerde campaign, successfully urging Panama’s Supreme Court to declare the Panama Cobre mine unconstitutional, protecting the Bosque Donoso National Park.
As a co-founder of Mujeres Amazónicas collective, their work, rooted in cultural and spiritual connection to the land, manifests through peaceful resistance, capacity building, and challenging policies jeopardizing indigenous rights, women’s wellbeing and environmental sustainability.
Central to Mujeres Amazónicas’ work is women’s leadership, equality, healing, autonomy, recognizing women as pivotal to the preservation of their territories. By fostering solidarity and resilience, they ensure cultural continuity and community wellbeing. Their initiatives, such as the Leadership School, Women’s Center, Legal Fund, underscore the critical role of indigenous women.
Honored with the Matilde Hidalgo de Prócel Medal by Ecuador’s National Congress, they continue to highlight the essential link between women’s empowerment and environmental stewardship. In a world grappling with crisis, Mujeres Amazónicas exemplifies the resilience and resolve needed to protect our planet.
