Indigenous leader Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari awarded the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize

The Goldman Environmental Prize is awarded yearly to "individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk." It is a prestigious prize often referred to as “the Nobel Prize for nature.”

“We are thrilled to hear Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari is a Goldman Prize recipient. The award is a testament to Canaquiris' immense impact and, more broadly, an acknowledgment of the crucial importance of Indigenous Peoples in protecting our planet”, says Toerris Jaeger, executive director of Rainforest Foundation Norway.

Three year legal battle ends in victory

As president of the Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana (HKK) women’s association, Canaquiri spearheaded a three-year legal battle.

The Kukama women demanded that the environmental damage be fixed and that the Marañón River and its tributaries be recognized as rights holders. This means the river should have an inherent right to exist, flow, give life to animals and plants, and remain pollution-free.

The legal battle culminated in a landmark court victory for the Kukama women in 2024.

Polluted river recognized as living entity with rights

Since 1997, the Marañón River has suffered over 60 oil spills, primarily due to leaks in the north-Peruvian oil pipeline, which transports petroleum from the Amazon to the Peruvian cost and is owned and operated by the state company Petroperu. These spills have led to severe environmental degradation and caused serious health issues among local communities. Despite the government's appeal, the ruling was upheld in October 2024, reinforcing the river's newly granted rights. ​

The court’s decision recognized the Marañón River as a living entity with rights to remain free-flowing and unpolluted, aligning with the Indigenous worldview that regards rivers as sacred beings. The court also mandated the Peruvian government to develop a river basin protection plan. It acknowledged the Kukama people as its guardians, thanks to the efforts of the women from Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana (HKK), led by Canaquiri. Several organizations – Instituto de Defensa Legal (IDL), Law Center, International Rivers, Forum, Solidaridad Perú, and Instituto Chaikuni – have been accompanying and supporting HKK in their efforts. IDL is a long-term partner of Rainforest Foundation Norway.

Anti-NGO law constricts Peruvian civil space

Shortly before Canaquiri was awarded the Goldman Prize for her efforts to secure the rights of the Marañon river, Dina Boularte, president of Peru, approved a new law, marking a significant blow to the rights of Peru’s civil society.

The new law – dubbed the Anti-NGO law – significantly constricts civil space in Peru. NGOs and Indigenous peoples, like those fighting for the Marañon, could face significant risks if they stand up against the government. Canaquiri has spoken out against the new law, denouncing its contents:

“This (law) is taking away a part of our lives. But we, Indigenous peoples, are strong. We will not remain silent. We will not allow ourselves to be tainted because Indigenous blood is strong, and we will assert our rights,” Canaquiri said shortly after the award ceremony.

A significant victory for environmental justice and Indigenous leadership

“On behalf of Rainforest Foundation Norway, I am proud to congratulate Canaquiri, the courageous Kukama women of Huaynakana, and everyone and everyone who has worked with her in her momentous achievements. The recognition could not have come at a more important time, as threats against environmental defenders such as herself are mounting, and they are fighting an uphill battle against a state that criminalizes them”, says Toerris Jaeger, executive director of Rainforest Foundation Norway.

“The results of Canaquiri's and Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana's efforts mark a significant victory for environmental justice in Peru and contribute to the global recognition of nature's rights. Their unwavering commitment to protecting the Marañón River underscores the vital role of Indigenous leadership in safeguarding our planet's ecosystems”, concludes Jaeger.

Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari was one of seven Goldman recipients this year, alongside Laurene Allen, Semia Gharbi, Besjana Guri, Olsi Nika, Batmunkh Luvsandash, and Carlos Mallo Molina.