The fight to protect the indigenous inhabitants of Ecuador
- Human Rights Research Center
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
Author: Peter Clarkin, MA
March 28, 2025
HRRC strongly condemns the forced contact with indigenous groups in Ecuador. The landmark ruling from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights must be followed by a strengthening of pressure on the Ecuadorian government to not choose financial gain over the rights of their native peoples.
![Activists in Ecuador have been fighting for years to stop the illegal expansion of mining projects in Indigenous territories. [Image credit: AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_6f4be6179fe74723bacd908980cb02e8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_75,h_50,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_6f4be6179fe74723bacd908980cb02e8~mv2.png)
When it comes to biodiversity Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park is a location that is unrivalled. The sheer range of bird, amphibian and bat species here is truly unbelievable, and one of the reasons why wildlife has flourished in this location is due to minimal contact from the outside world.
The Tagaeri and Taromenane, the uncontacted peoples who reside in the area have also benefited from a lack of external influence, but this is a continual struggle, a fight in which they need to be protected. Outwardly, the Ecuadorian government has always been vocal about their support for indigenous groups, however The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has ruled that they have not done enough to protect these isolated groups.
The Tagaeri and Taromenane are groups that rely on hunting and gathering and choose to live in voluntary isolation in an area of the Amazon rainforest which has also been open to oil development. The growth of mining in the area has brought about forced contact with the nomadic groups, and these interactions are often strained and tense. On several occasions tensions they have spilled over and there have been reports of physical attacks against members of the native communities.
For the most part the ruling delivered by the IACHR has been met with gentle optimism and has already been proclaimed to be a landmark moment in relation to the protection of uncontacted groups not only in Ecuador but around the world.
However, the statement from the IACHR was released during the same week as the Ecuadorian government announced a new free-trade agreement with Canada. Canada has significant influence in the country with 15 mining companies already in place. This new arrangement further strengthens the authority these Canadian companies have in Ecuador, some of which are still operating under investigations of abuse that occurred while they were in consultation with indigenous peoples.
There are a number of extreme challenges that groups such as the Tagaeri and Taromenane face on a daily basis, but the strengthening of the right to no contact must continue to be talked about extensively, especially in a time when governments are actively seeking external investment.
Glossary
Amphibian- a cold-blooded animal that lives both in water and on land, like frogs, toads, and salamanders.
Biodiversity – The variety of plant and animal life in a particular region.
Forced Contact – When outside groups, such as governments, corporations, or missionaries, try to interact with indigenous peoples who have chosen to remain isolated.
Hunting and Gathering – A traditional way of life in which people rely on hunting animals and collecting wild plants for food.
Indigenous – Referring to the original inhabitants of a region.
Landmark moment – A significant event that marks an important change or development, such as legal victories or policy changes.
Native communities – Groups of people who are indigenous to a specific region and maintain cultural traditions, languages etc.
Nomadic – A lifestyle in which people move from place to place rather than staying in one place.
Optimistic- A belief that good things will happen.
Uncontacted peoples – Indigenous groups who live in remote areas and have little to no interaction with the outside world.
Voluntary isolation – The deliberate decision of indigenous groups to avoid contact with outsiders in order to preserve their way of life and protect themselves.
Sources