Ecuador’s Waorani indigenous communities, through the Waorani Organization of Pastaza (OWAP), held an intercultural hearing in Daipade, Arajuno, Pastaza province, on July 9–10 to reject the Block 22 oil project, arguing its inclusion in state planning violates their collective rights to self-determination and prior, free, and informed consent, as well as the Pikenani Mandate of 2018, ratified in 2023 and 2025.

The hearing was convened by the Ombudsman’s Office and took place within a defensive investigation initiated after OWAP filed a complaint against the Ministry of Environment and Energy, according to the indigenous organization. The probe focuses on Block 22’s inclusion in the state oil investment portfolio and the sub-Andean blocks.

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The Ministry was not present at the proceedings. On July 8, during the afternoon, it sent an official letter requesting that the hearing be deferred, said Daniela Criollo, a human rights defender and legal advisor for OWAP.

OWAP’s legal defense maintained that the mere addition of Block 22 to oil planning undermines the Waorani nationality’s right to autonomy by disregarding a collective decision previously adopted by the communities.

OWAP president Oswando Nenquimo stated that communities have already made a definitive choice against extractivism and urged the State to honor that collective resolution.

“We have already made a decision: NO to extractivism. In 2018 we raised our voices and we already decided, now we are here to say that the Waorani must be respected,” he emphasized.

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