The novel, Savages, by author, Joe Kane, presents the case of the Huaorani, an indigenous People living in the rain forests of Ecuador. The author covers a wide range of topics as he explores
Huaorani territory. We hear about several players that enter the story from within the Huaorani people, players within Ecuador such as the government and other Ecuadorian indigenous peoples, and
international players such as companies and environmental organizations. This richness of actors reveals the complexity behind cases of oil development in a South state, and yet the novel is also
limited in its ability to dig deeper into topics that cut across several cases of international development. of Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) When are the Huaorani consulted? Who speaks on
their behalf? How is their consent purportedly obtained?
Inte vention Who intervenes in lives of the Huaorani, and why? How does this complicate their situation?
yConservation What are the challenges for protecting rain forests in Ecuador and indigenous territories? How do the environmental organizations in this story engage with this case?
Corporate Social Responsibility How does the company justify itself? What would a socially and environmentally responsible oil project look like in Huaorani territory?
Political Movements What’s happening politically in this novel? What are the challenges for the Huaorani organization, and for the wider indigenous movement in Ecuador?
Nobel Savage Does Kane provide a balanced view of the Huaorani? What does his narrative reveal about his biases in summarizing who the Huaorani are and what they want?