In the parish of Licto, near Riobamba, in Ecuador, the indigenous
population fought for its water. Indian peasants
participated in the design, construction and organisation of
the irrigation system. After more than 20 years the water
finally reached the community. The story is told by Inés
Chapi, an Indian woman, who came a long way from being
oppressed and discriminated against to become a most
respected irrigation organiser in the system.
In the Andes they call it blood of the earth, the source of
life from which other life grows. Water, feeding the land as
well as the imagination. Giving rise to rituals and myths,
fueling tradition and culture. Ancient and modern conquerors
of these highlands denied the indigenous people access to
springs and rivers. Water became a source of conflict. And
usually the Indians got a raw deal.
Based on: The Rules of the
Game and the Game of the Rules’ by Rutgerd Boelens;
Executive producer and scenario: Barend Hazeleger;
Photography: Thom Deelstra; Sound recordist: Juio Gorck;
Editing: Jan Pieter Tuinstra & Barend Hazeleger; Scientific
research and Interviews: Rutgerd Boelens; Produced by
Agrapen and Wageningen University (2003)
Creation of water
rights
According
to the beliefs of the Indians the water is there
for the use of communities. It’s not up to
individuals, corporations or the state to buy or
sell it, to take or give it away. The right to
use the water can only be earned by taking
responsibility for a fair and sustainable
distribution. By contributing to the design,
construction and organisation of the irrigation
system, the users create water rights.
Water
and identity
For the Indians there is more
at stake than just getting access to water. The
authority to manage the system according to
their own set of rules, is what they want.
Invariably these indigenous water practices have
been neglected and suppressed by national
policies and legislation. So in the end the
Indian peasant fights not only for water but for
recognition of his or her water practice and
culture as well.
The struggle
In the nineties the town of
Licto, dominated as it was by the big white and
Mestizo farmers, refused to work together with
the Indians. Inés formed an irrigation committee
in town and was elected as a board member. She
forged a strategic alliance with the indigenous
peasant organisation. Gradually the Mestizo
resistance waned away. But the authority of the
indigenous people to run the system is
challenged again and again. The government wants
to take over the control of the system, now that
it is running smoothly. And conflicting
interests are bound to lead to clashes.
The battle is not over,
yet.
Images, text and film courtesy of Rutgerd Boelens, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
For more information on the
project you may contact
Rutgerd.Boelens(at)wur.nl
