Icaro, a Karipuna boy, fishes in Karipuna Territory in the Amazon. Photo: Laura Vicuña.

Thirty years ago, the Karipuna people in the Amazon were almost decimated by outsiders invading their territory. Only five adults and three children survived. The Karipuna people have suffered numerous invasions in spite of their land being officially recognized as Indigenous territory. The federal constitution of Brazil guarantees the protection of Indigenous rights and the defence of their land. Today, however, they live under constant threat of genocide. Outside forces conduct illegal activities and want to appropriate their land for economic and political gain.

The Amazon is important to the world because of its rich biodiversity and complex socio-cultural fabric. It is the world’s largest tropical forest and spans over nine countries in South America. It contains one-third of the planet’s animal and plant species, 20% of all fresh water on Earth and is rich in mineral resources. All this makes the Amazon a highly coveted region and the source of many conflicts. Numerous undertakings in the guise of development are underway in the region: mining, land grabbing, hydroelectric development and other similar ventures. These compromise biodiversity and the survival of future generations of the people who live there. To date, 25% of the Amazon region has already been deforested.

About 400 Indigenous populations live in the Amazon, three million people who speak more than 250 different languages. There are also more than 140 uncontacted Indigenous communities living without sustained communication with others beyond their own society.

Indigenous peoples have been guardians of the forest for millennia despite their worldviews and cultures not being recognized and valued. They maintain the Amazon as a true “vital organ” of the planet. It is a source of ancient wisdom and care for humanity and Earth. It is a cradle for social and ecological justice.

Over 20 years working with Indigenous peoples has been a rich learning experience for me in spite of the devastation around us. The state of Rondônia in Brazil has been deforested and heavily impacted by mining, agribusiness, agriculture and organized crime. In Karipuna territory, there are numerous requests for mining exploration by national companies, many of which are linked to multinational corporations.

The work we do with the Karipuna people consists of monitoring the territory, gathering evidence, denouncing atrocities and pressing the state to fulfill its duty to protect the land. It is their responsibility to maintain the environmental, cultural and territorial integrity and rights of both the uncontacted peoples that inhabit Karipuna territory and the Karipuna people themselves.

In 2017, I changed many of my daily routines, like the leaders of the Karipuna people. I regularly change paths and routes through the city of Porto Velho due to the constant death threats we receive. I have lost the freedom to come and go. It is very difficult. In the eyes of organized crime, life is worth very little.

When we walk through Karipuna territory in the middle of the forest, we often hide because the invaders walk armed, ready for anything. When we are in the town, we cannot sleep. Gunshots and the noise of tractors disturb the peace. The community has received numerous messages saying that the town will be destroyed and everyone killed, first the leaders and then the rest of the townsfolk. The invaders intimidate us by saying, “we know where people live and where they are going.” This robs us of our peace and tranquility. Some may ask, “why don’t you seek help from the government to protect human rights defenders?” It is impossible to believe in government programs given the current political scenario in Brazil.

We live in a moment where any action in defence of the Amazon and Amazonian peoples is criminalized and considered an act against the sovereignty of Brazil. We have made our grievances known to national and international organizations. We seek allies in the defence of the territory of the Karipuna people and other Indigenous peoples. My life with the Karipuna people has enabled me to stand in solidarity with them in their effort and struggle to defend their land.

The Amazon is beautiful, rich and abundant, but it is also a complex and fragile system. For the Amazon to survive, its forests, fauna, waters, as well as the Amazonian peoples who have lived in harmony with the environment for millennia, must be respected and protected.