UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Indigenous Identity and Struggles for State Recognition in Ecuador

Identification

Public canonical key

radar:r-c9b4a4abcefb1a8ea1f0b7fc4572bf03

Authors

Caroline Martínez

Reported year

2025

Reported language

en

Source type

article

First detected

2026-11-14T02:33:04.732927+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-14T02:33:04.732927+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Institutions reported by the source

University of California, Irvine

Reported affiliation countries

US

Documentary abstract — original language

This article examines how the community of Río Blanco in Ecuador asserted its Indigenous identity in court to defend itself against a mining company in 2017. As other countries in Latin America, Ecuador recently ratified international conventions that provide greater protections for Indigenous peoples and has incorporated key Indigenous rights into its constitution, such as the right of Indigenous communities to be consulted before a mining company can exploit their territory. However, most of the country’s population identifies as mestizo or mixed race and mestizos are ineligible for Indigenous rights. This article asks, what were the legible definitions of indigeneity that Río Blanco members and Indigenous leaders deployed in Ecuador’s courts for recognition? How do communities redefine the meaning of indigeneity in legal cases involving state recognition as Indigenous rather than mestizo? Through an analysis of court documents, I argue Río Blanco legitimated its Indigenous identity in court by presenting itself as closely tied to the land its members lived on and as nature and water protectors. Ultimately, Ecuador’s courts upheld Río Blanco’s Indigenous identity and this community’s right to a consultation, leading to the expulsion of the mining company that was exploiting their territory. The Río Blanco case shows that while Indigenous communities are at a disadvantage in court cases where the state determines racial categories and beneficiary status, Indigenous communities play an active role in redefining what it means to be Indigenous, expanding the Indigenous- mestizo boundary, and furthering Indigenous rights.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

https://openalex.org/W4406535804

DOI

10.1177/23326492241310171

Documentary context

Documentary family

article

Source-reported types

article

Publishers

SAGE Publishing

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1

• Document · https://doi.org/10.1177/23326492241310171

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.