Helena from Sarayaku
(Helena Sarayaku Manta)
Eriberto Gualinga | Documentary
2022 | 80 minutes | Ecuador
Seventeen-year-old Helena yearns to protect her indigenous community from extractive development and the repercussions of climate change.
Synopsis
Traveling between her life in Finland and her mother’s homeland deep in the rainforests of Ecuador, 17-year-old Helena Gualinga yearns to protect her indigenous community from extractive development and the repercussions of climate change.
Her story highlights the efforts of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku to recognize the Amazon rainforest as a “Kawsak Sacha – Living Jungle”. The “Living Jungle” is both a cultural philosophy and a proposal that states the rainforest is not a resource to be used, but a living entity in need of protection.
With the help of her Sarayaku elders’ wisdom, Helena sets out on a journey to educate the world about the importance of conserving the Amazon rainforest, participating in climate marches and giving speeches about indigenous sovereignty. A story of perseverance and resilience, the film is an ode to indigenous communities striving to preserve their culture as they face consequences of a globalized world and the hastening effects of climate change.
Reviews
"Helena Gualinga is a voice for indigenous communities in the fight against climate change." — Sophie Foggin, Latin America Reports
Citation
Main credits
Gualinga, Eriberto (film director)
Gualinga, Eriberto (screenwriter)
Álvarez, Pocho (screenwriter)
Gualinga, Helena (on-screen participant)
Other credits
Cinematography, Allison Carden Hanes; editing, Pocho Álvarez; music, Nelson García.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Activism
Anthropology
Culture + Identity
Environment + Sustainability
Indigenous Peoples
International Relations
Latin American Studies
Religion + Spirituality
South America
Youth
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Ecuadorian Film Fest in New York; IndiFest Barcelona Indigenous Film Festival; Smithsonian's Mother Tongue Film Festival
DIRECTOR: Eriberto Gualinga
NATIONALITY: Ecuador
YEAR: 2022
GENRE: Documentary
LANGUAGE: Indigenous languages; Other languages; English; Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School, College, Adult
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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