The Juma Institute is extremely proud to have the support of Age of Union in its mission to protect the Amazon rainforest and strengthen the peoples who inhabit it and keep it alive. Together, we have joined forces in a commitment to conserving biodiversity, valuing traditional cultures and promoting the well-being of communities in order to inspire a new relationship between humanity and nature. With the support of Age of Union, we have expanded our actions in the Xipaya Territory by working on the following activities:
Institutional strengthening: in January 2025 we took an important step in strengthening our work by gaining a headquarters in Altamira, Pará. The space shared with the Pyjahyry Xipaia Indigenous Association (AIPHX) offers better working conditions for our employees and contributes to the consolidation of a more efficient organizational structure. The partnership with AIPHX, which provides technical advice to the Tukamã village and shares the same principles and commitments as the Juma Institute, reinforces our joint mission to promote the well-being of indigenous communities, value their traditional knowledge and encourage indigenous protagonism in the protection of the territory and conservation of the environment. This new headquarters represents not only a physical and logistical advance, but also the strengthening of alliances that drive concrete and sustainable transformations in the Xipaya Indigenous Land as a whole.
Drilling a well in the Kaarimã village: In March 2025 we drilled the first semi-artesian well among the six villages that make up the Xipaya Indigenous Land. The arrival of potable water represents much more than water security, it also symbolizes dignity, health and the appreciation of life in the community. In the Kaarimã village, this achievement has an even deeper meaning. With guaranteed access to clean water, the elderly Maria Lucia Xipaya and other members of the community will be able to continue the “Ipá-supá” project, an essential initiative focused on traditional medicine. The project is dedicated to the production of natural herbal medicines that are essential for maintaining indigenous health in the territory.
Territorial and Environmental Management of the Xipaya Indigenous Land: between April and June 2025, a strategic expedition is being carried out in the territory of the Xipaya Indigenous Land. Its main objective is to explore and monitor the boundaries of the Indigenous Land, with a view to revitalizing and protecting the territory from recurring threats, such as illegal mining, logging, predatory fishing and hunting. In addition, the expedition seeks to identify new areas of traditional use, such as andirobais, castanhais, açaizais, copaibais and other plant formations of socio-economic and cultural importance. The action involves the participation of territorial agents from the Xipaya Indigenous Land together with members of the Riozinho do Anfrísio Extractive Reserve, further strengthening the union of traditional communities. This integrated work strengthens territorial sovereignty, ensures the sustainable use of natural resources and reaffirms the leading role of the peoples in the defense and management of their territories.
The Juma Institute believes in the autonomy and capabilities of the Xipaya Indigenous Land and has been seeking partnerships that also fight for indigenous dignity and protagonism. This partnership with Age of Union represents more than cooperation: it is a commitment to the future of the planet. It is an alliance between those who live in and care for the forest and those who recognize that only with it will the future be possible. Let’s move forward together!
Photos: Yjapyka Xipaia, young Sekamena communicator from Tukamã village, TI Xipaya