Keynote Helena Gualinga: Changemaker fighting for the environment and equality

Helena Gualinga, 21, is an environmental and human rights activist. She grew up both in Finland and in the Kichwa Sarayaku community in the Ecuadorian rainforest. The daughter of a Finnish-Swedish father and an Ecuadorian mother has appeared at several international climate conferences, such as the Davos Economic Forum and the UN Climate Conference in New York.

Making a rare appearance in Finland, Gualinga will speak about how the traditional territories of indigenous peoples are being threatened as climate change progresses and how these communities are fighting against oil and mining companies. For her it is crucial to be involved in the fight against climate change and human rights violations. Gualinga believes in change and that humanity is not separated from nature.

The programme will be in English. The programme will be available on-site at the Speaker’s stage and through live stream on the Festival website.

If we are going to fight climate change we need to make sure that indigenous rights are respected.
Helena Gualinga

Helena Gualinga

Gualinga, aged 21, is a Finnish-Ecuadorian environmental and human rights activist who was born in the Kichwa Sarayaku community in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Born into the resistance movement, it is important for Gualinga to take part in the fight against climate change and human rights violations.