San Lorenzo, Loreto. With the goal of strengthening territorial governance and Indigenous autonomy processes in the Peruvian Amazon, authorities from several Indigenous nations in the provinces of Datem del Marañón and Alto Amazonas gathered on May 27–28 for the first strategic planning meeting of the project “Laying the Foundations for Territorial Agreements Among Nations in the Peruvian Amazon.”The initiative is led by the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance with support from the DocuSign Foundation.
The meeting took place at the facilities of the Regional Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples of San Lorenzo (CORPI-SL) in Datem del Marañón Province and brought together representatives of the Autonomous Territorial Governments (ATGs) of the Kandozi, Chapra, Inka, and Wampis nations, as well as a representative of the Achuar Nationality Federation of Peru (FENAP).
The session was led by one of our founders and current Vice President of the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, Wrays Pérez, who emphasized the importance of creating spaces for dialogue and coordination among Indigenous nations to address longstanding territorial challenges and consolidate a shared vision of autonomy and governance.
During the two-day meeting, Indigenous authorities reviewed several cases of overlapping territorial claims and disputes affecting communities in the region. Participants also identified priority areas for intervention and developed a roadmap aimed at promoting dialogue, trust-building, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Milton López Tarabochia, who designed the project and serves as Fundraising Coordinator for the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, explained that the initiative seeks to create the conditions necessary for Indigenous nations to move toward consensual territorial agreements while strengthening their territorial recognition and governance processes. Over the next two years, the project will support inter-nation assemblies, technical meetings, field visits, and institutional strengthening activities. Funding for the initiative was provided through a private-sector grant.
Participants agreed that stronger coordination among Indigenous peoples and nations is essential to addressing external threats, preventing conflicts, and safeguarding their ancestral territories.
This first meeting marks the beginning of a process aimed at establishing a solid foundation for cooperation in northern Peru's Amazon region, contributing to the strengthening of Indigenous territorial autonomy and the development of governance based on dialogue, mutual respect, and collective agreements.
Photo: Eduardo Pichilingue Ramos / ACSA