{"id":11210,"date":"2022-04-04T15:55:40","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T15:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/fernanda-castro-purran-la-defensora-mapuche-pewenche-por-los-rios-libres\/"},"modified":"2022-04-13T20:14:33","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:14:33","slug":"fernanda-castro-purran-the-mapuche-pewenche-champion-of-free-rivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/fernanda-castro-purran-the-mapuche-pewenche-champion-of-free-rivers\/","title":{"rendered":"Fernanda Castro Purran, the Mapuche Pewenche champion of free rivers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"11210\" class=\"elementor elementor-11210\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aae4f2f elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"aae4f2f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c282546\" data-id=\"c282546\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75a4d03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"75a4d03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/azul-cordo\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Paula-Huenchumil-1-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-11096\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Paula-Huenchumil-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Paula-Huenchumil-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Paula-Huenchumil-1.png 550w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3c800d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f3c800d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Baloo 2', sans-serif; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 1.8px; text-transform: uppercase; white-space: pre-wrap; color: #006d55;\"><span style=\"font-size: 35px;\">Paula Huenchumil<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #006d55; font-family: 'Baloo 2', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 800; letter-spacing: 1.8px; text-transform: uppercase; white-space: pre-wrap;\">(CHILE)<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ec38916 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"ec38916\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e21a2d4\" data-id=\"e21a2d4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f191e4 animated-fast elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2f191e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 20px;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold; color: var( --e-global-color-text );\"><i>For the indigenous and environmental organizations of the B\u00edob\u00edo river basin, dams do not constitute clean energy. A fourth hydroelectric plant is being built there, and Fernanda is one of the main leaders opposing it. At 29, she is the director of the R\u00edos to Rivers Chile organization, a mother and the founder of the Pehuenche Malen Leub\u00fc women\u2019s rafting team. She leads meetings and mobilizes young people who are inspired by former environmental defenders.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-65ec3f9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"65ec3f9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-719c052\" data-id=\"719c052\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33a2e84 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"33a2e84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;lightSpeedIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f06ac95 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"f06ac95\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d1b23a9\" data-id=\"d1b23a9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0cf3d05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0cf3d05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Fernanda Castro Purran hails from the Callaqui community in Alto B\u00edob\u00edo in southern Chile. This territory belongs to the Pewenche, the \u201cpeople of the pewen\u201d or monkey puzzle tree, which is sacred to the Mapuche people. It is home to the B\u00edob\u00edo, one of the mightiest rivers in Chile, which has been interrupted by three mega hydroelectric plants: Pangue in 1996, Ralco in 2004 and Angostura in 2014. Today it is being intervened in again, but the slogan of Fernanda and many of the inhabitants who oppose the new projects is \u201cFor Free Rivers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This young Mapuche woman, together with indigenous communities and environmentalists, contends that the fourth plant, Rucalhue, being built by the Chinese transnational, Three Gorges Corporation, will exacerbate the irreversible impact on biodiversity. The company depicts its project as \u201cclean and renewable\u201d and has already had its Environmental Qualification Resolution approved, but for the defenders of the B\u00edob\u00edo river basin, dams do not constitute clean energy. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0c74a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a0c74a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cDams produce large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that is more powerful than carbon dioxide. Worldwide, the construction of dams has displaced and affected thousands of indigenous communities, fragmenting their territory, and destroying their traditional life systems. Dams have a negative influence on the quantity and quality of the population\u2019s drinking water supply as well as a devastating effect on local ecosystems and biodiversity throughout the entire basin,\u201d according to the Pehuenche Malen Leub\u00fc women\u2019s rafting team, founded by Fernanda.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abd33ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"abd33ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Another project they describe as a threat to the river is the Water Highway of the Reguemos Chile Corporation, chaired by agro-industrial businessman Juan Sutil. The aim is to build a large, five-section irrigation canal to extract water from the Queuco River\u2014a tributary of the Biob\u00edo River\u2014from the B\u00edob\u00edo Region to the Atacama Region, more than a thousand kilometers further north. \u201cWe will fight to the end to stop it from being built,\u201d Fernanda has often said of the Water Highway.<\/p>\n<p>Fernanda, together with Paula Riffo Vallejos, spokesperson for the movement against the Rucalhue Power Plant, traveled to Glasgow for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to talk about the impact of both projects. To date, they have succeeded in ensuring that no further sections to be built have been announced.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1bb6ecb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"1bb6ecb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2e54951\" data-id=\"2e54951\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cef0d7f animated-slow elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"cef0d7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;bounceIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef0ae81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ef0ae81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Baloo 2'; font-weight: bold; color: #006d55;\">\u201cNo river has too much water\u201d<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d96397f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d96397f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Fernanda experienced a turning-point in her life that triggered her commitment to the environment. 2013 saw the death of Nicolasa Quintrem\u00e1n Calp\u00e1n, a Pewenche activist from the Ralco Lepoy community in the Alto B\u00edob\u00edo district, who was nationally and internationally renowned for her and her sister Bertha\u2019s vehement opposition to the construction of the Endesa Ralco hydroelectric plant. The project, which began to be built in 1997, not only led to the exile and subsequent relocation of the Pewenche families that lived there but also flooded sacred burial grounds.<\/p>\n<p>The young Fernanda was serving an internship in tourism when Nicolasa Quintreman died. During the wake, she felt as though she had been \u201cslapped in the face.\u201d She began to question her life and what was happening in the territory. She started to read more and become both concerned and involved. \u201cThe Pewenche territory of Alto B\u00edob\u00edo has been wounded and impacted by hydroelectric constructions,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, Nicolasa is a symbol of the struggle of the Mapuche people against major infrastructure construction projects. This opposition, considered the first Chilean environmental movement, has managed to halt construction of the hydroelectric megaproject on two occasions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is no reason for me to leave. I will leave my land, but not alive,\u201d Nicolasa Quintrem\u00e1n used to say. Paradoxically, it was in Lake Ralco itself, artificially built in this dam, that she lost her life at the age of 74. Her body appeared submerged in the waters on December 24, 2013,\u201d indic\u00f3 El Pa\u00eds .<\/p>\n<p><br \/>After years of indigenous opposition and pressure from the state apparatus and Endesa, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights established an agreement between the Chilean state and the Mapuche-Pewenche communities, ensuring that no new hydroelectric projects would be installed on the B\u00edob\u00edo River. This agreement is currently being violated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c166bff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c166bff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cNicolasa fought against the reservoir and while we were bidding her farewell from this land, I thought that this would not go on happening. They gave everything; it was a fight that lasted many years, in which they resisted. We often simply hear recriminations because in the end, faced with so much pressure, they were forced to negotiate, but they are an example,\u201d reflects Fernanda.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e05507 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6e05507\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-Castro-Purran-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-que-homenajea-en-su-entrada-a-Nicolasa-Quintreman-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11203\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-Castro-Purran-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-que-homenajea-en-su-entrada-a-Nicolasa-Quintreman-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-Castro-Purran-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-que-homenajea-en-su-entrada-a-Nicolasa-Quintreman-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-Castro-Purran-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-que-homenajea-en-su-entrada-a-Nicolasa-Quintreman-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-Castro-Purran-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-que-homenajea-en-su-entrada-a-Nicolasa-Quintreman-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-Castro-Purran-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-que-homenajea-en-su-entrada-a-Nicolasa-Quintreman-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f2df24b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f2df24b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Fernanda Castro Purran at the XX cultural center, which honors Nicolasa Quintreman<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-292570e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"292570e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Fernanda began to question herself more deeply, since she had studied tourism with a grant from the Pehu\u00e9n Foundation, a nonprofit established in 1992 by the Central Hidroel\u00e9ctrica Pangue company, a subsidiary of Enel Generaci\u00f3n. \u201cHow could I have studied with money from this foundation that did so much harm?\u201d I wondered. I gradually made decisions. Over time, I gathered more information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She read the book \u201cAguas turbias: la Central Hidroel\u00e9ctrica Ralco en el Alto B\u00edo B\u00edo&#8221; de Jorge Moraga, which made her cry on several occasions.<\/p>\n<p>After graduating from higher education, Fernanda worked at an NGO. Shortly afterwards, she taught tourism at Ralco High School, from which she had graduated. She regarded it as a challenge. She was 23, so only slightly older than her students. At the same time, she completed a diploma course in pedagogy in secondary education.<\/p>\n<p>Fernanda worked at the high school for four years. At the same time, she studied pedagogy for teachers thanks to a grant at the University of Concepci\u00f3n. During her last spell as a teacher, she began to be questioned about her participation in marches and demonstrations \u201cagainst extractivism.\u201d She showed her students the documentary \u201cTurn it off and let\u2019s go,\u201d containing a series of interviews in which those affected provide testimonials of the way their lands were taken from them. Fernanda had to explain her decision as a pedagogue. Eventually, in 2018, the tourism degree course at the high school was eliminated and she was told she would no longer be able to continue working there. <br \/><br \/>Fernanda Castro Purr\u00e1n began to devote even more time to the defense of the territory and its waters. At present, at the age of 29, she is the director of the R\u00edos to Rivers Chile organization, an international movement founded in 2012. It arranges exchanges of river defenders through programs that include indigenous students and community leaders. One of the main struggles of its members has been to stop dams from being considered valid measures to combat climate change.<\/p>\n<p>In March 2021, Fernanda directed the Environmental Leadership Program for Protectors of the Queuco River, designed for young people, tour guides, athletes, and inhabitants of Mapuche communities who participate in emerging organizations dedicated to protecting the territories. This is one of the many activities Fernanda has led, because in addition to communication work, she participates in in-person and virtual meetings and is engaged in continuous training, supported by her territory and networks.<\/p>\n<p>As a member of the movement for the Defense of the Queuco River and the Network for Free Rivers, Fernanda has invited people to mobilize against the Water Highway. The project, promoted by Corporaci\u00f3n Reguemos Chile, as indicated on its website, \u201cwill allow the capture, storage, and transport of excess water from the rivers of the B\u00edob\u00edo Region, where it is abundant and not used to its fullest capacity in the winter months, to the Atacama Region in the north, where water is scarce and required for different uses, such as agriculture.<\/p>\n<p>However, for the inhabitants who oppose this, \u201cNo river has too much water.\u201d We cannot allow our territory to be impacted again by a project as harmful as the Water Highway. We will fight to the end to stop it from being built,\u201d says Fernanda.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18c71b2 animated-slow elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"18c71b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;bounceIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dab688e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dab688e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Baloo 2'; font-weight: bold; color: #006d55;\">Family legacy<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9900fe5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9900fe5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When Fernanda was a little girl, she and her classmates witnessed the arrival of large machines, but at the time, they did not understand the impact they would have on the area. What she was always aware of was the need to respect \u00d1uke Mapu (mother earth). She mainly inherited knowledge from her grandmother Rosa Milla, who died 10 years ago. Rosa taught her about Mapuche spirituality and the fact that \u201cevery element of the earth is alive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn her daily work, Fernanda reflects what our grandmother taught us when we were small, about taking care of nature and the river. Sometimes we would go to spend the night with her. Fernanda is an example to follow, she is a good leader. The whole family is very proud of what she does,\u201d says Paulina Purran (31), Fernanda\u2019s first cousin. They grew up together and currently share various activities such as playing pal\u00edn, a traditional Mapuche game.<\/p>\n<p>The people around Fernanda describe her as an extremely organized, structured woman, which enables her to participate and lead all the activities she engages in daily. She has a strong character, and is a good mother, and above all, a loyal person who likes to dream.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlthough sometimes she gets disheartened, she has a strong, resilient character that has enabled her to be the leader she is. She is also respected for her work in the territories,\u201d says Paulina Purran, who also mentions the Quintreman sisters as outstanding women and Mapuche. The cousins think it is essential to transmit this knowledge to their daughters.<\/p>\n<p>Fernanda\u2019s life, like that of many indigenous peoples, was marked by poverty. From the age of 12 to 16, she used to work as a seasonal fruit picker in the summer in various places with her cousins, mother, and aunts. When she was in the last year of high school, she became a mother. She remembers this process as being difficult, but one she was able to cope with because she had a lot of family support.<\/p>\n<p>Her aunt, Mar\u00eda Purran Milla, explains that Fernanda has been enthusiastic about her studies, independent and sociable since she was a child. \u201cShe began to mobilize a lot of people. She has fought to defend the environment. I think she inherited that strength from my father, because he was a great fighter who always defended our ancestors, his community. Fernanda has been to other countries to tell them what is happening here. I am proud of my niece, because we have to take care of the rivers,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>Mar\u00eda, the oldest of her siblings, was 14 when in 1973, her father Jos\u00e9 Guillermo Purr\u00e1n Treca was arrested and disappeared, a victim of the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. He was a leader and recognized at a territorial level. He toured various communities on horseback, recovering land for other families.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9f101f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d9f101f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cMy father was killed for speaking out, for being a Mapuche who defended the environment. To this day, we are still seeking justice, like many people in the territory. That hurts; it marks you for life. It\u2019s a wretched memory we have. My father was not a terrorist; he died fighting,\u201d explains Mar\u00eda.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d29413 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3d29413\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Another of Fernanda\u2019s aunts, Francisca del Carmen Purran (62), who considers Fernanda her second daughter, describes her as a hard-working, intelligent, brave, and active woman. \u201cI am always asking Chaw Ng\u00fcnechen to take care of her and protect her. I celebrate the young people who are protecting the territory of the elders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fernanda\u2019s aunt has not been to look at the B\u00edob\u00edo River for over 20 years, even though it is only a few yards away. It makes her sad. \u201cIt has made me miserable since Pangue was built. It is heartbreaking to remember what it was like before and see what it is like now. There were fast-flowing rivers, and now it is like a small estuary. One day I went to the Queuco viewpoint and thought, what would happen if the water highway was built? It would dry up,\u201d says Francisca Purran.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe2d6f9 animated-slow elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"fe2d6f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;bounceIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aab2a30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aab2a30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Baloo 2'; font-weight: bold; color: #006d55;\">Inspiration for others<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35ea811 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"35ea811\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cFe\u00f1a\u201d as Fernanda\u2019s friends and family call her, is also a rafting and mountain guide. She usually cycles around the area, often accompanied by her 12-year-old daughter. They regard each other as partners. Fernanda speaks softly to her daughter, but she is also strict.<\/p>\n<p>Her friend, N\u00e9stor Queupil Naupa from the Cau\u00f1icu community, thinks that Fernanda is a leader in the territory, mainly because there are people who respect and follow her. She also has a great ability to create networks. \u201cShe attracts a lot of people, because she is very unassuming, and she has a level of maturity and perseverance that those responsibilities require. She is always willing to talk about any issue, and eager to hear the opinions of all those who are involved in a conflict. She is an example for many people in the territory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>N\u00e9stor, who is also a teacher of Chedungun (a Mapuche language), reflects on the fact that many of the socio-environmental leaders who have existed in the territory have been women \u201cwho have perhaps not been publicly recognized. There is a lot of female leadership in these struggles. They all sacrifice a part of their lives.\u201d In this respect, N\u00e9stor believes that the role of young people is crucial to the protection of the territory, so that the \u201cstories of deception by companies\u201d are not repeated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0410b30 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0410b30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-lugar-en-el-que-han-realizado-trabajos-de-autoformacion-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11205\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-lugar-en-el-que-han-realizado-trabajos-de-autoformacion-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-lugar-en-el-que-han-realizado-trabajos-de-autoformacion-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-lugar-en-el-que-han-realizado-trabajos-de-autoformacion-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-lugar-en-el-que-han-realizado-trabajos-de-autoformacion-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Fernanda-en-la-sede-comunitaria-Weche-Newen-lugar-en-el-que-han-realizado-trabajos-de-autoformacion-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-151c234 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"151c234\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Fernanda at the XX headquarters where self-training work has been carried out.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dd6958 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8dd6958\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Tannya Orme\u00f1o Treca (21), from the community of Callaqui del Alto B\u00edob\u00edo, was one of Fernanda\u2019s tourism students at Ralco High School. She saw Fernanda as a teacher who inspired them. \u201cShe took us out to the mountains, and taught us to take care of the river, and to ensure that tourism had the least possible impact. She was very patient with us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The two women traveled to the Argentinian Patagonia together as part of the R\u00edos to Rivers exchange, where they rowed. There she saw Fernanda leading in the field. \u201cShe is brave and inspires us to continue. We now see the water highway as the greatest threat, in addition to the damage caused by those that have already been built. That is why she has spoken up, to show us that the river must always flow freely. She has gone to various territories to drum up support.\u201d \u201cI am proud of her as a woman and a Mapuche Pewenche. She always says, \u201cI won\u2019t rest until the B\u00edob\u00edo River is free,\u201d says Tannya.<\/p>\n<p>Felipe Purran Pichanao (44) from Callaqui, a relative and a neighbor of Fernanda\u2019s, notes that people in the area say that Fernanda is unpretentious. Above all, in the face of \u201cthe threat of the Water Highway, she has studied together with her organization, educating people about the damage it will cause if it is built, so the community has been keeping an eye out. Everything she learns, she shares.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-076358f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"076358f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cToday there is such destructive development that what we do is defend Itro fill mogen (biodiversity). Water is life, it has to be clean. Fe\u00f1a has understood that well and therefore defends it. Like many of her generation, she lost her language because of the discrimination our parents experienced, but she took in the kim\u00fcn (knowledge) her grandmother and family passed on to her,\u201d he concludes by saying.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-434d255 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"434d255\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-28d0990\" data-id=\"28d0990\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0329f9 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a0329f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-061bcb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"061bcb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This report was originally published in <strong>Interferencia<\/strong> on March 26, 2022, as part of the <strong>&#8220;Women Defensing their territory&#8221;<\/strong> project of <strong>Climate Tracker<\/strong> and <strong>FES Transformaci\u00f3n<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1dfef68 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"1dfef68\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5053796\" data-id=\"5053796\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e995294 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"e995294\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><center><div style=\"width:488px; height:220px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/DEfENSORAS-cabezote-Ingles.png\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width:488px; height: 78px;\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/climatetracker.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/logo-climat-1.png\" width=130><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/fes-transformacion.fes.de\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/logo-fes.png\" width=350><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/center><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paula Huenchumil (CHILE) For the indigenous and environmental organizations of the B\u00edob\u00edo river basin, dams do not constitute clean energy. A fourth hydroelectric plant is being built there, and Fernanda is one of the main leaders opposing it. At 29, she is the director of the R\u00edos to Rivers Chile organization, a mother and the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11200,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-defenders"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11210"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11343,"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11210\/revisions\/11343"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/defensorasdelterritorio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}