Cesar Augusto Jojaje, a leader of the Ese Eja Indigenous people, had a vision to reunite his nation that had been dispersed in communities along the Tambopata and Heath Rivers in the southern Peruvian Amazon.

Now, it is a young, re-established nation with a clear political vision, solid organizing, and communal ties. These strengths helped the Ese Eja develop a comprehensive plan against the pandemic, and our Amazon Defenders Fund responded quickly to support their needs.

With a direct grant from the ADF, the Ese Eja equipped their health posts with oxygen concentrators in each of their communities, dug water wells, and strengthened river transportation between communities using small canoes. “Our communities now have oxygen concentrators and basic health equipment that even some larger centralized hospitals do not have,” shared Cesar Augusto.

Indigenous communities, their ancestral vision and collective resilience, are the key to address climate change and provide solutions to counteract increasing deforestation, fires, flooding, industrial extraction, and agribusiness expansion. It is crucial that we support Indigenous nations like the Ese Eja. Every dollar you donate goes directly to our programs.

Will you make a contribution to support Indigenous-led solutions during this pandemic?

For the Amazon,

Leila Salazar-López
Executive Director