In the province of Condorcanqui, in the Amazon region of Peru, the Awajún and Wampis embark on a daily fight against illegal mining. The negative impact of illicit mining includes environmental concerns such as the pollution of rivers and wetlands; social impacts including lack of safety, contract killings, and human trafficking; to health, with the increase of skin diseases in children and adults, and to trade and commerce, with little fish to catch and a decrease in wild fruit.
Due to the neglect by the Peruvian State, the Awajún and Wampis resort to their means to defend themselves and confront the illegal miners. They also try to remove them from the banks of the Santiago and Cenepa rivers, where the miners operate their dredges. Despite the fear of putting their lives at risk, these Amazon Indigenous communities continue to make their voices heard to protect their land, customs, and their families from the advance of illegal mining.
The only thing the Awayún and the Wampis ask from the State is more action to avoid the environmental destruction of their habitat and continue living as their ancestors did: breathing pure air, eating healthy food from their crops, and using water from the rivers for their natural consumption.
This story was produced with support from the Earth Journalism Network. It was first published in Servindi on June 25, 2024.
Banner image: Illegal miners are searching for gold and polluting rivers in the Peruvian Amazon. / Credit: Goreti Pioc.
Goreti
