Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari

Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari is a prominent Indigenous campaigner and women's leader from the Peruvian Amazon, recognized for her tireless advocacy for environmental justice. At 57 years old, she leads the Huaynakana Kamatahuara Kana (HKK) women's association and has championed the rights of the Marañon River, which is sacred to her Kukama community. In a landmark legal victory, Canaquiri successfully argued for the river's recognition as a legal entity, highlighting its importance to the ecosystem and the Indigenous worldview that sees the river as a living entity. Her work is crucial in the ongoing fight against oil spills and environmental degradation caused by the oil industry in the region, which has severely impacted the health and livelihoods of her people.