Latin America Advisor

John Polga-Hecimovich, associate professor in the political science department at the U.S. Naval Academy: “Despite the fact that Conaie’s political agenda has historically promoted environmental sustainability and opposed extractive industries in Ecuador, the mining and petroleum industries have continued to grow. Indeed, in 2023, mining was Ecuador’s fourth-largest export sector, providing $762.72 million in tax revenue and accounting for nearly 97,000 jobs. Yet resource extraction in Ecuador is a divisive issue, and Indigenous communities have long been at odds with the mining industry. First, Indigenous attitudes are influenced by the philosophy of sumak kawsay, which promotes living in harmony with nature rather than dominating it. Second, Indigenous communities’ physical proximity to mining and oil operations—and the resulting environmental degradation—has…”