In September 2022, Honnold Foundation team members Peter Walle and Kate Trujillo spent two weeks in Sinangoe, Ecuador, to see how community members are using solar to protect the ancestral lands of the Cofán— over 60,000 hectares of untouched rainforest bordering Ecuador and Columbia.
Each week, Sinangoe's La Guardia, an elected group of 20 community members, depart on multi-night trips into the Amazon to patrol and guard their lands from illegal extractive industry. Using drones, camera traps, and their unique knowledge of the river and their expansive territory, the guards track and log any illegal activity, submitting all evidence to the government to ensure that illegal miners are held accountable for their actions.
While recent coverage has stated otherwise, the Guardia do not arm themselves as a paramilitary group. Cameras, charged in the field via solar installations, are their tools of choice, and, accompanied with an always useful machete, spears are their ceremonial point of pride.
All ages and genders can join La Guardia— and they do. Town elders take part to help guide and mentor, while young people join to protect their land for both themselves and future generations.
During their time in Sinangoe and out with La Guardia on a forest defense patrol, Peter and Kate saw a glimpse of daily life in Amazon.
The Cofán’s clear love for their land and ways of life were abundantly clear. They navigate the river seemlessly, whether by boat or foot. When cliffs block safe passage, they scramble over wet rocks and rapids without a second thought. Meanwhile, they’re constantly on the lookout for fish, casting nets and hunting by spear to gather food for the community, including the film crew, almost constantly. Every utilization of their land is rooted in a deep sense of respect, sustainability, and partnership.
Solar panels installed at strategically placed patrol stations ensure that La Guardia can always work their way back to the safety of shelter, and the assurance of freshly charged batteries that are vital to their territory’s defense.
Peter and Kate were joined by Encompass Films to help tell the story of La Guardia's territorial defense efforts. The Honnold Foundation’s next short film will be released in Winter 2023.
The Honnold Foundation is committed to telling stories by and for the communities we serve. We Partner with communities to ensure that their stories are told collaboratively and equitably. All members of our productions, including the main subjects of our films, are compensated for their time, energy, and talent.
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Photography by Peter Walle, Development and Communications Manager at the Honnold Foundation