Nélida Ayay Chilón

Indigenous Peruvian activist fighting for environmental justice against mining pollution

Nélida Ayay Chilón, a Quechua leader from Cajamarca, Peru, emerged as a fierce defender of indigenous lands against destructive mining practices. Born in 1980 in Celendín, she witnessed rivers contaminated by the Yanacocha mine, Latin America’s largest gold mine. In 2011, Ayay co-founded the Celendín Intercultural Platform, mobilizing thousands to protest the Conga mining project, which threatened local water sources.

Her activism, rooted in 'Buen Vivir' (Good Living) philosophy, blends legal battles and grassroots education. Despite threats and arrests, Ayay’s movement forced Newmont Mining Corporation to halt the Conga project in 2016. She advocates for indigenous rights globally, speaking at UN forums on ecological justice.

Ayay’s resilience earned her the 2020 ‘Front Line Defenders Award’. Her story underscores the power of marginalized voices in confronting corporate giants, inspiring a new generation of environmental warriors in Latin America.