Trinkets And Beads Analysis

The video, “Trinkets and Beads,” illustrates a three-year struggle between a small Amazon tribe of 1500, Huaorani, and international oil companies. The video begins by mentioning the killings of American missionaries as well as the efforts of Rachel Saint to “civilize” and evangelize the indigenous people. Then, it moves on to discussing that approximately, 50 years ago oil was discovered in Ecuador and oil companies like Shell, Texaco and PetroCanada began drilling on the border of Huaorani territory. For roughly 20 years, the Huaorani had witnessed the impact of oil drilling on Cofan land. Many in the video stated that some indigenous people live by hunting and others by fishing; they were doing well in the past and they knew it was safe …show more content…
The oil company made promises to be the first company to protect the rainforest, and respect the people who live there. According to Moi, 35 anthropologists were sent to visit and investigate them, in addition to offering material things, schools, and healthcare. The manipulation of Huaorani leaders by Maxus through “negotiation” and giving material things, led to the tribe dividing. Moi noted this and he has encouraged the Huaoranis to unite in opposition to Maxus because they want to calmly live like they used to and continues living like their ancestors. A section that I found interesting was the comparison that Giovanni Schiavone, an Oil consultant to Government of Ecuador, made between the oil industry and the arrival of Christopher Columbus, where he brought some mirrors and some necklaces… Fancy things.” This is an example of how history is being repeated as a very similar approach that was done 500 years ago is being done …show more content…
In the Amazon Watch, they focused on Chevron-Texaco by giving historical information and health and environmental impacts. They are also supporting the demand that Chevron-Texaco take responsibility for the “toxic destruction” it has caused and recompense by providing clean drinking water, and allocating funds for healthcare. This leads to the discussion on the question of whose rainforest. Many people can argue that the Amazon belongs to the indigenous people because they have lived in the Amazon for millennia and that the U.S., other outsiders, and their governments fail to recognize the indigenous’ rights. The debate gets more interesting when the major issue of “split estate” comes into play. When an agreement was made in the Yasuni National Park, it was stated that the minerals below the surface belonged to the government and the land above belonged to the indigenous people. Therefore, foreign investors and/or any outsiders with the “highest bidding” are able to lease rights to extract the minerals and leave with a maximum profit. In the ChevronToxico video and in the Amazon Watch, it was noted that this was a result of choosing not to re-inject toxic produced water into the ground and line its waste pits and other extraction procedures like