AMARU FUND
The Amaru Fund is founded by Rebekah Shaman, and was created with the intention of giving back to the Amazon by supporting indigenous peoples and grassroots movements to protect the largest tropical rainforest in the world. The Amaru Fund also opens it's arms to support indigenous peoples across Latin America and beyond, focusing on resolving environmental issues that have a direct effect on these lands.
Current campaign 2024
The Kukama Women’s Nature Rights Lawsuit Case In Defense Of The Marañón River, Amazon, Peru
ON March 19th 2024, in a historic milestone for the protection of the Marañón River led by indigenous Kukama women of Peru, the Peruvian Mixed Court in Nauta ruled to protect the rights of the Marañón River.*
The Kukama women need support to appeal one of their demands to renew the oil pipeline, which causes all the spills that wasn't granted by the Court. The Amaru Fund, alongside The Chaikuni Institute in Peru, have pledged to support the Kukama women to support and help them with their next steps of this campaign.
100% of all ticket sales for Rebekah's upcoming ceremonies (see below for specific dates), will go directly to the Kukama women to enable them disseminate information about the court ruling to the surrounding communities at various events, including their Annual Assembly that happens at the end of May.
This funding will also allow the Kukama women to travel to international meetings, pay for additional costs, as well as hold local meetings to keep the communities well informed and avoid misinformation.
How the The Kukama Women’s Nature Rights Lawsuit Case began
The Kukama indigenous community of Santa Rita de Castilla, on the Marañón River in Peru’s Northern Amazon region, also known as ‘La Muyuna’ (the Whirlpool), formed Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana (the organisation of indigenous women), in order to file a lawsuit in September 2021, against PetroPeru, demanding the Marañón River be declared a legal entity, ‘legal person,’ or subject of law with inherent rights of its own, Like a living being."
“It encourages us to fight to defend our territories and rivers, which is fundamental. The recognition made in this decision has critical value. It is one more opportunity to keep fighting and claiming our rights. Our work is fundamental for Peru and the world: to protect our rivers, territories, our own lives, and all of humanity, and the living beings of Mother Nature, ” claims Mariluz Canaquiri Murayari, president of the womens’ organisation**.
No Río, No Vida
Since the recent lawsuit victory the Marañón River now joins a group of other rivers around the world such as the Whanganui in New Zealand and the Atrato in north-west Colombia which are part of the Global Rights of Nature Movement*.
Oil spills have detrimentally impacted the Marañón River for over 60 years, and have had a very negative impact on the many Kukama communities who depend on the River for their wellbeing and livelihoods. Petroperu has repeatedly failed to maintain and protect its pipe infrastructure, as well as clean up the frequent oil spills when they occur.
The lawsuit was filed against state oil company Petroperu, the Environment Ministry and five other state entities.
Eleven potential rights have been identified, including the:
Right to exist
RIght to flow
Right to function as a sustainable ecosystem
Free from any kind of contamination
We are very honoured to be able to help these women empower themselvesto fight the fossil fuel companies that are destroying their livelihoods, and traditional indigenous ways of life. Now the Marañón River itself has rights there is significant hope that things can change for the better for future generations.
Please do join us for these ceremonies, and help the Kukama Warriors stand up for Mother Earth.
UPCOMING EVENTS TO SUPPORT THE KUKAMA
WEDNESDAY 1ST MAY : FEELING ABUNDANT SHAMANIC JOURNEY
https://www.rebekahshaman.com/offerings/p/feeling-abundant
THURSDAY 5TH JUNE: WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
(details to follow)
THURSDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN
(details to follow)
Contact Elise for more details: AMARU@REBEKAHSHAMAN.COM
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*Rights Granted to the Marañón River: What This Ruling Means for Peru https://chaikuni.org/news/rights-granted-to-the-maranon-river-what-this-ruling-means-for-peru
**Landmark ruling: The Peruvian Court of Nauta recognizes the rights of the Marañón River and the Indigenous communities as its guardians https://www.internationalrivers.org/news/landmark-ruling-the-peruvian-court-of-nauta-recognizes-the-rights-of-the-maranon-river-and-the-indigenous-communities-as-its-guardians/?emci=9efb42a0-9be7-ee11-aaf0-002248223794&emdi=5de44611-aae7-ee11-aaf0-002248223794&ceid=2035293