HISTORY
Juma Institute
The scope of the environmental, cultural and territorial destruction of this endeavor, combined with the corruption and the co-optation process of indigenous and non-indigenous leaders were met with strong resistance by Juma, at the time, a teenager indigenous leader in the frontlines of the movement against the construction of the hydroelectric.
In 2019, the Amazonia Centro do Mundo event in Altamira, allowed for a reunion and understanding between the various social movements after 10 years of division, culminating in their re-articulation at a regional, national and international level. At this event, Kayapó chief Raoni Metuktire demonstrated his full support for the Juma’s struggle, as an inspiration to the indigenous female leaders of the Middle-Xingu.
Meet the female indigenous board of the Juma Institute
President Director of the Juma Institute:
Maria Lúcia Xipaia
Our new President Director Maria Lúcia Xipaia, she is one of the leaders of T.I Xipaya, which has been working in indigenous health for 23 years with its people. Since her childhood she followed the work with strengthening of medicinal herbs with her mother. Maria Lúcia assumed the presidency to continue the work and dream of Juma Xipaya.
Today she takes the lead in this work together with young people, indigenous and non-indigenous women and midwives who are part of the territory and outside it. Its goal is to strengthen indigenous and riverine communities to seek the use of traditional medicine for the prevention of various diseases. She adds by strengthening us with her traditional knowledge inside and outside the territory with a humanized look of experience and love for the land.
Vice President of the Juma Institute:
Jumara Xipaia
Our new Vice President Jumara Xipaia.
Jumara is a young warrior of the Xipaya people, mother and student of Biological Sciences at the Federal University of Pará who is committed to the fight for the environment and health of the peoples of the middle Xingu and upper Iriri, always involved in the articulation of young people for environmental and health causes, Jumara has the clinical and strategic eye for dialogue.
She adds to our institution with her persistence and knowledge about indigenous causes and love for nature.
About Juma Xipaia
Chief Raoni has urged all that protect the Amazon to protect Juma as she is one of the forest’s fierce warriors. She has had 6 attempts on her life and has had to flee Brazil once. Juma spent a year in Switzerland in exile and became the first Xipaya person to speak at the UN headquarters. Now, she is back at the Amazon and she is in the process of founding her own NGO.
Achievements
- Participant in the Liberate the Future Movement: Climatic Emergency Laboratory, 2020
- Secretary of the Academic Medicine Center (CAMED), at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) - Campus Altamira, 2018/2020
- Director of the Association of Indigenous Students (APYEUFPA), at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) - Campus Altamira, 2018/2020
- Chief of Tukamã village for a term of two years - first woman Chief of the Middle Xingu region
- Worked at the Coordination for Indigenous Organizations in the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB)
- 32nd Chico Mendes Medal of Resistance Nominee/ 2020: Indigenous Women of the Middle Xingu in the fight against high impact projects in the Amazon
- Participated in several actions on Indigenous Rights in governmental and non-governmental organizations, in Brazil and in other countries around the world, to raise awareness about the rapid devastation of rivers, environment and climate change.
- First Xipaya to speak at the headquarters of the United Nations (UN-Commission on Human Rights) in Switzerland in 2018.
