Nina Gualinga, 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.
She actively advocates for the rights of women and is a spokeswoman for Mujeres Amazónicas, a collective of Indigenous women in the Ecuadorian Amazon defending their lives and lands, and fighting against systematic violence against Indigenous women.
Nina comes from a family of natural artists and storytellers, mastering the traditional art of Wituk painting and Kichwa ceramics. In recent years, she has expanded her creative expression through photography and film. In 2020, she co-produced ’Tiam – The Return’, a short film that follows the journey of an Indigenous family escaping the impact of COVID-19. Now, ’Waska – The Forest Is My Family’ marks her directorial debut.
