Juma is the leader of the indigenous Xipaya tribe in the Brazilian Amazon. She is a mother, an activist and a medical student. At the age of 24, Juma became the first woman chief in the Middle Xingu. She led a peaceful life until construction of the Belo Monte mega-dam began in 2011. In 2017, when she discovered a corruption scheme related to the construction of the dam, she became the victim of attacks and received countless death threats. She had to flee Brazil with her daughter, spent a year in Switzerland, and was the first Xipaya representative to speak at the United Nations. Back in Brazil, she founded the Instituto Juma, with which she campaigns for the protection of the rainforest, the autonomy of indigenous peoples, gender equality and against corruption.
GUEST IN VIENNA AND CALL FOR DONATIONS
On April 21st, Juma Xipaia will be the keynote speaker at the EARTHtalks in the Hall E of the viennese Museumsquartier. In order to support her and other indigenous people from northern Brazil in their fight to protect the rainforest, the organization Neongreen Network is launching an appeal for donations. Particularly indigenous women are on the front line of this unequal struggle, which they ultimately fight not only for themselves, but for all of us.
