Wadimula’s warning about the forest

Wadimula, an 110-year-old member of the Tolaki people on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, warns that damaging the forest will bring evil back upon those who do it. She recalls a time when the remote valley she lives in was believed to be the dwelling place of tree gods, a belief central to her community’s spiritual life.

Tolaki people and nickel extraction

The Tolaki people are facing the consequences of nickel extraction, which has transformed a large part of Sulawesi into an industrial hub for electric vehicle production. Nickel is a key component in the batteries used in electric cars, driving demand for the metal worldwide.

Unfulfilled promises of jobs

Despite the expansion of nickel mining, the promised jobs have not materialized for the local population. Many inhabitants have not found employment in the industry, leaving them without the economic benefits that were expected to come from the mining boom.

Environmental and economic costs

The inhabitants of the region are now facing significant environmental and economic costs, including increased forest loss and a lack of smelting plants or broader prosperity. The extraction has brought industrial activity but not the promised development or wealth.