“To defend the Amazon is to defend life”

What changes have you seen to your home, the Amazon?

We are suffering from the causes and the consequences of climate change. Forest fires and deforestation have been plaguing our territory.

The animals that serve as game, that are part of our food security, are disappearing just as the rivers are drying up and fish are disappearing too. And we see that it no longer rains as before. Our crops no longer grow as before. There is a plant that was previously sacred to us for our rituals that we no longer find in the village.

What does it mean to you to defend the Amazon, and where does the motivation come from when we’re facing such a massive problem?

For me, to defend the Amazon is to defend life, because regardless of whether I’m young, I think the youth already understood that many older people did not understand that the time is now and that if we don’t fight now, we won’t have a future, we won’t have a present.

And that’s why I am here at COP26. I’m here to defend the Amazon, not only for my people, not only for my territory, but for life itself, for everyone’s life on our planet – for me, for you and for everyone around the world.

How do you keep going and not lose hope?

First, I think that we cannot lose hope. Young people are hope, but my strength comes from my people. It also comes from what I carry with me, from the forest spirits of my family and those who are on my side fighting with me.

But that’s because we are fighting for life. We see life differently. For us, animals, plants and trees are life, but I fight for Mother Earth, who is alive and is also taking care of us at all times, and for those who are with me and also who give me strength.

If you had one message for leaders and people around the world, what would it be?

My message is that we must understand that the time is now to talk about climate change and that we also need to look at the most vulnerable populations that are suffering and fighting against it, which are mainly the Indigenous Peoples.

We also need to ensure that world leaders put the Indigenous Peoples at the centre of this discussion, because it is unacceptable for them to have this kind of dialogue without us being present. They have the responsibility for the future of the planet in their hands.

And I take the opportunity to invite everyone to fight with us, because if I’m fighting for everyone, it’s because it’s not just my fight. So I invite everyone to join Indigenous Peoples in the fight for life and the planet.