Green colonialism and decolonial feminism: A study of Wayúu women’s resistance in La Guajira

• Published in: Human relations (New York) Vol. 77; no. 7; pp. 937 - 964
• Main Authors: Ramirez, Jacobo, Vélez-Zapata, Claudia Patricia, Maher, Rajiv
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.07.2024; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Climate change; Colonialism; Colonies & territories; Companies; Feminism; Indigenous peoples; Mitigation; Native peoples; Native rights; Power; Resilience; Social responsibility; Wind power; Women; Worldview; Colombia; decolonial feminism; Indigenous women; CSR strategies; Wayúu women; coloniality of power; La Guajira; economic colonialism; green energy; Indigenous peoples
• ISSN: 0018-7267; 1741-282X
• DOI: 10.1177/00187267231189610

This qualitative study scrutinises how green energy investment affects Indigenous Wayúu people in Colombia’s La Guajira region. Employing coloniality of power and decolonial feminism frameworks, we delve into Wayúu women’s struggles and resilience in defending territories against large-scale wind energy projects. Our findings suggest that governments and businesses are ‘tuned in’ to the economic benefits of these projects, yet ‘tuned out’ from Indigenous peoples’ ontologies, concerns, needs and cosmovisions. This dynamic prompts questions about the unintended consequences of organisations’ engagement with Indigenous peoples through corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. Despite good intentions, CSR practices that are ‘tuned out’ from Indigenous peoples’ cosmovisions may inadvertently reinforce power imbalances and further marginalise Indigenous communities. Our study highlights the need to honour Indigenous territories and protect Indigenous women’s rights in long-term investments. Clean energy focus can mask green colonialism, which Wayúu women actively safeguard, upholding Indigenous worldviews via feminist decoloniality. We advocate for businesses to incorporate diverse perspectives beyond the dominant western worldview into their climate change mitigation actions and CSR strategies, and for public policies to balance decarbonisation efforts with Indigenous rights to contribute to sustainable and equitable energy transitions.