Why Latinas Should Read We Will Be Jaguars by Nemonte Nenquimo

We Will Be Jaguars, a memoir by Nemonte Nenquimo, tells the story of her childhood in the heart of the Amazon rainforest where corporate oil companies, missionaries, and other outsiders began to infringe on the land and rights of her people, the Waorani. Through her story, Nenquimo exposes the clash between two worlds: the Indigenous worldview and the Western perspective. More than a memoir, We Will Be Jaguars is a powerful account of Indigenous resistance, environmental justice, and the fight to protect the Amazon rainforest.

At a time when Latinas and Indigenous women are leading conversations on climate change, identity, and cultural preservation, Nenquimo’s voice stands as both a warning and a call to action.

Nenquimo’s leadership in defending over 500,000 acres of rainforest and co-founding the Ceibo Alliance places her among the most influential Indigenous women activists in Latin America today.

Who Is Nemonte Nenquimo?Nemonte Nenquimo, a Waorani indigenous leader, recounts in her autobiography We Will Be Jaguars her childhood in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the impact of Christian missionaries' arrival in her community. From an early age, Nenquimo felt a deep spiritual connection with nature, sharing experiences with her brother Víctor and facing the challenges posed by the contact with external cultures.

"The forest is alive. It is a living being that speaks to us if we listen."

The arrival of the missionaries created cultural tensions. While her mother reminded her of the importance of maintaining her identity and not being influenced by external promises, her father observed the newcomers with caution, aware that they might have hidden motives.

Nenquimo describes her time at the mission, where she learned English and was taught Christian doctrine. During this period, her mother entrusted the care of her younger sister to the missionaries, a decision that deeply affected Nemonte. Later, her brother Opi helped her escape to the city, where both became involved in the fight for their people's territorial rights.

"The missionaries brought a different god, and with him came shame, shame for our bodies, our language, our ways of life."

"My mother would tell me, ‘Don’t let them take your thoughts. Your thoughts are your strength."

Later, Nenquimo led an environmental campaign in 2019 and co-founded the Ceibo Alliance with various indigenous communities from the Amazon. Thanks to this collective action, they won a legal battle that protected more than 500,000 acres of the Amazon rainforest. 

What Is We Will Be Jaguars About?

Witnessing the destruction of the Amazon and the growing threat from oil companies, Nenquimo recognized the need for collective action. She participated in meetings with indigenous communities, which led to the formation of the Ceibo Alliance, an organization dedicated to defending the territorial and environmental rights of indigenous peoples.

"We knew we had to come together—Waorani, Kichwa, Secoya, Siona—to defend what was left of our territories."

The Ceibo Alliance brought a landmark legal case against the Ecuadorian government for  the contamination of indigenous lands. The court ruled that the state had violated the collective rights of the Waorani communities, annulling the oil concessions in their territory and ordering the suspension of extractive activities. This ruling represented a historic victory for indigenous communities and strengthened their determination to protect their land and culture.

"When the court ruled in our favor, it was not just a victory for the Waorani. It was a message to the world: our lives, our forests, and our future matter."

We Will Be Jaguars offers an intimate view of Indigenous resistance and underscores the importance of preserving cultural identity and the environment in the face of external threats.

The Symbolism of the Jaguar in Waorani Culture

The jaguar represents a symbol of strength and power for the Waorani, which is why the book is titled We Will Be Jaguars. The jaguar is the largest predator in the Amazon, but it is also a powerful spirit that protects the forest and is part of the Waorani cultural identity. For Nemonte Nenquimo, the jaguar symbolizes resistance in the face of threats to their territory and culture, such as oil extraction and deforestation. It represents fierceness and determination in the fight to preserve the Amazon. When she heard the jaguar in a vision, she was empowered and went out to defend her people's rights with courage.

“The jaguar appeared. It stood on the trail like a vision. It was sleepwalking.

Its eyes were closed. It arched its neck back, sniffing, like an

animal dreaming.

I stood stock still. Was I being hunted in a jaguar’s dream? I did not

move a muscle. I was mesmerized, by the jaguar and by fear.

Who are you? an old woman’s voice whispered in my head. Who are

you?

Was the jaguar talking to me? I wanted to answer, but no words came.

It was within pouncing distance now. I could see blood on its whiskers. I

felt dizzy.

Who are you?”

Indigenous Women and Latinas Leading Climate Justice

This story inspires and encourages us to defend our rights as women and as members of our communities. It invites us to be firm in our identity and to act like that protective jaguar of the forest, which watches over what belongs to it. Nemonte Nenquimo became an icon of struggle and perseverance. We should follow her example because we all carry that jaguar inside, and it must awaken.

Indigenous female leadership holds great transformative power in society. Nenquimo is an example of this: even with fear, but without giving up, she decided to face the Ecuadorian government and the oil industry, achieving her goal. Every woman, anywhere in the world, can become a leader who defends justice, rights, culture, and nature. It is essential to raise our voices for environmental preservation, because taking care of the Earth is taking care of life.

Nenquimo gives a voice to indigenous communities and women who have been marginalized or ignored. She made the least heard voices resonate and change the course of Amazonian history. Her activism inspires Latinas to raise their voices like a fierce jaguar in the face of injustice and to fight for equity and inclusion. Her impact extends globally, motivating women of all ages and cultures to fight for a more just, sustainable, and inclusive world.

Resumen en español

¿Por qué deberías leer Seremos Jaguares?

El poderoso testimonio de Nemonte Nenquimo, líder indígena waorani, va más allá de la autobiografía. Seremos jaguares es una invitación a reconectar con nuestras raíces, a defender lo que amamos y a despertar ese espíritu luchador que todas llevamos dentro. Desde la selva amazónica hasta los tribunales, Nenquimo nos muestra cómo una mujer puede enfrentar al sistema, proteger su tierra y alzar su voz por las que no han sido escuchadas. Este libro no solo cuenta una historia de resistencia: es un llamado urgente a actuar por la justicia, la identidad y el planeta. Una lectura imprescindible para todas las mujeres que quieren transformar el mundo.