After watching Hija de la Laguna, I began to think more about the impacts resource extracting has had on Indigenous communities. One of the more emotion-provoking shots that sticks out to me was towards the beginning of the documentary when the camera pans from green hills to the dry, gray hills that are a result of harvesting resources. You can see some work vehicles driving around, and everything looks dusty and dead. This specifically really made me feel upset regarding the extractivist companies that are tearing up these natural landscapes. Hearing the woman in the film, Nelida, speak about wanting to study law in order to protect her land and family was quite powerful, and the way she spoke about the land so lovingly was touching.
Thinking about Hija de la Laguna made me think about the Uros people, which my group is writing about for our blog project. The Uros aren’t necessarily facing mineral extraction impacts, but they have felt the effects of globalization. Increased tourism to the region has caused their supply of Totora reed – one of their staple foods and building materials – to go down, fish and wildlife population to dip, and water to be contaminated. Because of these things, the Uros have worked with the government to implement various means of making tourism more sustainable for their community. Hija de la Laguna reminded me of their situation because of the impacts they were facing, and how some, though not all, Uros believe tourism and globalization have threatened their culture and identity.
You provide a great formal analysis of the film. Those slow shots that juxtaposed healthy land to mined land were incredibly impactful.
I look forward to hearing more about how the Uros have worked with the government to reform the tourism industry!
Thanks, Tamara! I thought it was an interesting connection. I enjoyed putting together our project and I really hope to visit Peru one day (sustainably, of course)!
Hi! Thank you for your blog post! I totally agree with you and I felt the same when I saw the extractivist companies were destroying the landscapes of the Quechua. Also, I remember from the movie some of these companies were threatening a Quechua woman so she moves out of her house since they had to extract gold underneath. Nelida on the other hand was studying law in order to defend her traditional ancestral territory from these companies and protect the rivers from getting further polluted as in respect to ayni. Nemonte Nenquimo just like Nelida is a woman leader in Waorani, fighting to protect her land against oil extraction and preserving culture and ways of life.
Thanks for your comment 🙂 I agree, that aspect of the movie really opened my eyes to the true pain caused by these companies.
Hi Grace! I really enjoyed reading your reflection on the “Hija de la Laguna” movie. I agree that the movie did a great job portraying the effect of extraction on the Quechua and the nature in their region. It was sad to see the impact of the mines and how it was no only damaging the environment but affecting the living conditions of those living nearby. I also liked the connection to the group you researched! I’m really interested in learning more, I think I’m going to read your lecture and maybe do some of my own research!