At around 80 years old, Kemperi Baihua has seen his forest drastically change with the first arrival of white men back in the 1940’s. Waorani Territory, Yasuni Biosphere, Ecuador. ©Ryan P. Killackey/Pollywog Productions
The journey that began with an exploration soon turned into a seven-year odyssey to create Yasuni Man, Killackey’s first and only feature-length documentary. The film chronicled the struggle of the Waorani people to defend their ancestral lands from the encroaching forces of industry, weaving together the stories of families, shamans, and activists caught in the crossfire of geopolitics. It was no simple task, nor was it one without personal cost. Over those years, Killackey endured profound loss—the deaths of his brother, grandparents, and two close friends. He also fought a battle of his own against malignant melanoma, a struggle that left indelible scars but did not deter him.
He fought on because he had not accomplished his goal. In his words, Yasuni Man was more than a film; it was a plea for humanity to reevaluate its priorities, to recognize the cost of its consumption, and to acknowledge the people whose lives and lands were sacrificed in the pursuit of fossil fuels. Yet, even as his film traveled the world, garnering 35 official selections, 23 nominations, and 15 awards, including partnerships with the United Nations, the stark truth loomed large—Yasuni Man could not, by itself, halt the drills or the roads cutting through the forest. The oil continued to flow.
Yasuni Man poster
And yet, his work was not in vain. The Waorani’s resilience and Killackey’s dedication helped to cast a bright spotlight on Yasuni, illuminating it for the world. His documentary, which captured scenes of vibrant life and devastating loss, did not end when the credits rolled. The stories and images persisted, speaking to anyone who would listen. In August 2023, a referendum in Ecuador saw the people vote to end oil drilling in Yasuni—a victory which may be, in part, attributable to the visibility Yasuni Man brought to their cause.
The triumph was bittersweet for Killackey. He spoke in interviews of the Waorani not as subjects but as friends and family. “To me, the Waorani are like mythological figures,” he once said, “They kept outsiders away, defending their home with sheer courage.” Their survival, he hoped, would inspire the world to see the value in every acre of rainforest spared from the axe.
Killackey’s dream was to produce a sequel to Yasuni Man—to return after 12 years and witness what had changed. He wanted to capture not just the scars left behind but the healing, if there was to be any. Though he did not live to fulfill that dream, he made a final wish: that the footage and photos he left behind should live on beyond him, serving as both testament and tool for conservation efforts in the future.
Ryan Patrick Killackey
Killackey’s passing leaves a void, not only for his family—his mother Patricia, siblings Michael and Carolyn, and countless friends around the globe—but also in the world he fought so fiercely to protect. His life’s work serves as a reminder that even when faced with overwhelming odds, there is value in bearing witness. For Killackey, the rainforest was not simply a subject for his lens; it was a living entity, breathing, enduring, and longing to be seen.
In the years to come, as Yasuni’s fate continues to unfold, one can only hope that his vision will guide others to preserve what remains. There is a kind of hope that emerges in the wake of despair, a belief that the seeds of change planted by those who came before can take root, grow, and, against all odds, flourish. Killackey planted many such seeds. Now, it is for the world to nurture them.
Rainforest at Sani Lodge, near Yasuní National Park, a place where Killackey worked as a naturalist guide with the local Kichwa community that runs the ecotourism facility.
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Publish date : 2024-10-09 10:43:00
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