"The electoral results confirm that the power of Indigenous peoples and the movement for change away from extraction that we've seen in the streets came through at the ballot box."

Ecuador's presidential election is a clash between two visions for the Amazon and the country. Despite allegations of voter fraud, the unexpectedly strong showing of Indigenous candidates is a major rebuke of the country's right-wing and Correa-era policies, signaling a new political landscape and an emboldened Indigenous movement.

It is essential that any incoming administration heed the historical demands of the Indigenous movement. They are the ones who live by and take care of the rivers, the forests, and biodiversity, and they are the ones who suffer directly from the effects of pollution and the destruction of their lands.

As an organization dedicated to advancing Indigenous rights and protecting the Amazon, we support the calls from our Indigenous partners for any new government to respect the clear mandate of Indigenous peoples for an end to new oil and mining extraction and guarantee their rights to territory, self-determination, and to live in an environment free of contamination.