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Alexandra Narváez

ORA Latin America 2026 Fellow

Ecuador

Alexandra Nárvaez is an A’i Cofán leader and currently the president of the A’i Sinangoe Community. She was awarded the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize for her fight to defend and care for her territory. She has played a fundamental role in the Kuirasunde’khu Indigenous Guard, as well as in the empowerment of women and the “Little Guardians of the Forest” initiative. She has received various national honors, most recently the Dolores Cacuango Commendation.

She has also participated in efforts to strengthen indigenous guards nationwide, as part of implementing resolutions from the National Indigenous Guard Gatherings.

The proposal entails mapping the cultural significance of water within the A’i Cofán worldview—drawing on the traditional knowledge of community elders—to support the defense and stewardship of the watershed. This effort addresses threats posed by the expansion of both formal and unregulated mining, as well as new hydroelectric projects that wreak havoc on territorial harmony. We operate on the premise that the river must be understood as inextricably linked to the Community, serving as the foundation for weaving together strategies for its care. To this end, the plan includes creating spaces for the exchange of wisdom and knowledge with elders, conducting territorial surveys, and strengthening the role of the Community’s governing council.

This information will be crucial for understanding the cosmogonic and spiritual elements that sustain the river’s life and its connection to A’i Cofán cultural identity. These insights will then be presented to the Community Assembly to formulate communication and legal strategies, as well as approaches rooted in the community’s own customary law.

We recognize that by protecting the waters of the Cofanes River, we safeguard the life of the community and ensure a future for generations to come.

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