The documentary film Cocalero (2007) followed Evo Morals around Ecuador during his presidential campaign. His triumphant run for president was a great political achievement for the indigenous population. The largest providence in Ecuador, Santa Cruz, had harsh negative sentiments against the indigenous population. When Evo traveled there they shouted the most terrible things at him and it was all because he was part of the indigenous population. Evo did not let the lack of major financial support, public support, and educationally hindered indigenous population keep him from standing up for all the indigenous people in his beloved country.
Suzana Sawyer’s “The 1992 Indian Mobilization in Lowland Ecuador”, addressed the constant struggle for land ownership by the indigenous population of Ecuador. The people wanted land reformation to be able to own and cultivate their own land and conserve the depleting Amazon Rainforest. The Ecuadorian government wanted to use the land to sell to oil companies. Money was a main reason to not sell the land that was so rich and could be easily cultivated, but long-standing prejudice played a major part. Much of Ecuador’s population did not believe that the indigenous population was capable of cultivating the land they saw them as lazy and inadequate (70). This was very similar to the thoughts of the people in Santa Cruz, in the film. Both in the film and this article the indigenous population was not going to stand while their rights and land were being taken away. They participated in multiple protests from roadblocks to hunger strikes. The indigenous population was not going to sit back and let their rights and land slip away from them any further.
“Ecuador’s Pan-Indian Uprising” was brought about after a Cathedral was overtaken in Quito. Hundreds of indigenous people flocked the city to make a stance on agrarian reform. Land reformation had been an issue for many years. The initial problem started with the small number of landowners that control most of the land and forced people to work in their land (2). Ethnic groups around the area began to organize and take action to gain land reformation. They petitioned their government and participated in protests to get their voices heard and make real changes.
Evo Morales the Cocalero was a living example of how perseverance against injustice can get you places. He stood up against his government who was trying to hold him back from achieving his full potential all because of the color of his skin. The indigenous population rallied around him and he was elected president. This was similar to the land reformation because the indigenous population will organize and let their voices be heard. They have endured so much persecution and are no longer going to stand for the injustices and are making real steps to getting rights in the eyes of their government.
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