Kakataibo, the life for the earth.

The guardians of land and nature

Abstract

This essay examines the aggressions against Indigenous defenders of Kakataibo territory and Nature in the Peruvian Amazon, placing them in the broader context of the progressive erosion of Kakataibo land over the past 100 years: first, through the construction of a national highway; later, through the granting of rights to third parties; and, more recently, through the presence of land invaders engaged in coca leaf cultivation and processing, which poses major challenges for public policy, since every State is obligated to ensure the effective enjoyment of human rights within its territory (American Convention on Human Rights, Article 1.1). The essay identifies connections between the gradual erosion of Kakataibo territory at the hands of illegal activities—including the murder of Indigenous defenders, the passivity of some authorities, the complicity of others, illegal land-use change, the expansion of crime, and the consolidation of illicit economies that drive deforestation—and the resulting expansion of national society over Indigenous lands. To this end, it draws on case information from documentary and bibliographic sources that provide a systematic overview of the issue, as well as the historical trajectory of relations between the Peruvian State and the Kakataibo people. This historical lens serves as a background for understanding processes of change within Kakataibo society and its territory, as well as the current dynamics between them, their aggressors, and state agencies charged with upholding rights. The essay also uses maps of Kakataibo territory to illustrate simultaneous processes such as land titling—or its absence—, the granting of forestry and mining rights, and the spread of illicit crops. In addition, interviews were conducted with leaders, professionals, and technicians from Indigenous organizations, supporting NGOs, and academics during 2021 and 2022.

KEYWORDS:
Amazon, Deforestation, Coca, Indigenous Communities, Territory.