The Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador (CONAIE) is an association of 53 Indigenous grassroots organizations that represent 18 Indigenous peoples and 15 Indigenous nationalities in 10,000 communities working to defend the environmental, economic, cultural, and political collective rights of Ecuadorian Indigenous peoples.

Founded in 1986, CONAIE’s mission is to  integrate the processes of struggle and resistance of Indigenous peoples to decolonize democracy, dismantle neoliberalism, and redefine and rebuild the country through the construction of a plurinational state. Through direct actions and initiatives in popular education, advocacy, and strategic litigation, CONAIE defends and stands for Indigenous culture, ancestral knowledge, land and territory.

CONAIE’s work has been crucial in halting both current and prospective oil and mining drilling activities in the Ecuadorian Amazon–home to several Indigenous people, including those that live in isolation. They have also played a pivotal role in advocating for legal frameworks that ensure Indigenous communities have the right to give free, prior, and informed consent for any development project in their territory.

CONAIE’s relentless dedication to defending civil rights has secured amnesty for frontline defenders who have faced persecution for pursuing accountability within the justice system for the murders of environmental activists, many of whom are Indigenous people. CONAIE’s work underscores the critical importance of the Indigenous movement in countering the increasing authoritarianism in the region. They serve as an essential force in advocating for the rightful inclusion of Indigenous interests on the public agenda, emphasizing the indispensable role of Indigenous peoples in shaping policies and priorities.