Enfoque participativo de los pueblos indígenas como un reto para la democracia en el Ecuador: Caso Pueblo Kichwa Sarayaku

Abstract

The case of the Kichwa Sarayaku people has been one of the most documented in the country, given its problems regarding the violation of the collective rights of indigenous peoples, and in particular regarding the right to free, prior and informed consultation in the plans and projects of exploration and exploitation of non-renewable resources in its territory. Despite the development of a new Constitution that contemplates the innovation of concepts and proposals that is aligned to the Andean principle of good living; the implementation of the right to consultation in the country continues to leave political, social and cultural gaps that limit the effective participation of peoples as dictated by the constitution and under international standards that regulate this right. It is concluded that, despite the progress in the adoption of mechanisms to improve the participation of indigenous peoples, it is not possible to develop adequate consultation processes, thus questioning the democratic State in Ecuador. Other cases in countries of the region are briefly reviewed as a comparative analysis of the right to consultation. For this reason, a short alternative is proposed that addresses the socio-environmental reality of indigenous peoples, such as the alternative development model: post-extractivism, in a way that guarantees the rights of indigenous peoples.