This concise documentary amplifies the voices of the residents of Cuninico, a Kukama Kukamiria Native Community situated along the Marañón River in Loreto, Peru. In 2014, the community endured one of Peru’s most significant environmental catastrophes when over 3,000 barrels of oil leaked into the Cuninico River due to corrosion of the Norperuvian Pipeline. Since then, the community has grappled with contaminated water and food, leading to the pervasive presence of heavy metals in both the environment and residents’ bodies, resulting in severe illnesses and a profound disruption of their traditional way of life. Despite prevailing in a legal battle against Petroperú for negligence in maintaining the Norperuvian pipeline, the community, even after a decade, awaits the full implementation of indemnification, remediation, and health initiatives. Through poignant testimonies, this short documentary sheds light on the ongoing struggles and resilience of the people of Cuninico.
Yacopo Cacela Brizzi
Currently enrolled in the Doctoral Program in Anthropology at ISCTE-IUL/NOVA-FCSH in Lisbon, Portugal, he conducts research on the Peruvian Amazon and the Kukama Kukamiria indigenous people, focusing on the social and cultural effects of oil extraction and related ecological disasters.