Nemonte Nenquimo

Nemonte Nenquimo is an Indigenous activist and member of the Waorani nation from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador. As the first female president of the Waorani of Pastaza (CONCONAWEP), she is an integral figure in advocating for Indigenous rights. She is also the co-founder of the Indigenous-led nonprofit organization Ceibo Alliance and has worked with the organization Rewild. Recognized as an influential environmental leader, Nenquimo has made various public appearances and given speeches addressing the urgent need to safeguard the Amazon rainforest.

In 2020, Nenquimo was distinguished in the Time 100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world, noted as the only Indigenous woman on the list, and just the second Ecuadorian in its history to receive this honor. Her advocacy work has also been recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme, which awarded her the "Champions of the Earth" award for Inspiration and Action in 2020. Furthermore, she was listed in the BBC 100 Women in the same year and has been featured in various news outlets, including BBC News Mundo, Vogue, The Guardian, and The New Yorker.

Nenquimo was the plaintiff in a landmark lawsuit against the Ecuadorian government, which led to a 2020 ruling that protects half a million acres of Waorani ancestral land in the Amazon rainforest from oil drilling. This significant legal victory demonstrates her firm commitment to the protection of Indigenous lands and environmental conservation. Alongside her advocacy, Nenquimo has also been acknowledged with the Goldman Environmental Prize, further cementing her role as an eminent environmentalist.

Currently, Nenquimo is co-writing a memoir with her husband, Mitch Anderson. The memoir, titled "We Will Not Be Saved" in the United Kingdom and "We Will Be Jaguars" in the United States, is an anticipated addition to her extensive environmental and Indigenous rights advocacy work.