Indigenous Leader Takes Amazon Mining Concerns to New York Stage
Juma Xipaia used a New York event to amplify Indigenous opposition to a proposed mining project in the Amazon.
Indigenous leader Juma Xipaia has brought the voices of Amazonian communities to an international audience, speaking out at an event in New York.
Xipaia, founder of Instituto Juma, used the platform to draw attention to the concerns of Indigenous peoples opposed to a mining project led by Canada's Belo Sun Mining Corp.
"Listen to the Indigenous peoples who are saying no to this project," she urged, calling on those gathered to hear directly from the communities affected.
Her appearance carried a clear message: that the people who live in and depend on the Amazon should be at the centre of decisions about its future.
The event was highlighted by Amazon Watch, an Ecoflix partner, which works alongside Indigenous leaders to protect the rainforest and defend the rights of its peoples.
By taking her community's stance to an international stage, Xipaia has helped ensure that Indigenous perspectives are heard well beyond the Amazon.
Moments like these show the growing reach of Indigenous voices in global conversations about land, rights and the protection of one of the world's most vital ecosystems.
Watch the story to learn more about the work of Amazon Watch and the leaders standing up for the Amazon.