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Prince William heard directly from indigenous people about their plight to save their land, telling them: “We deeply appreciate everything you do.” After a week in which the Prince of Wales spoke of the optimism of a better future for the planet, he heard the reality faced by indigenous groups campaigning to protect their land from deforestation. Juma Xipaia, 33, whose fight to protect the Amazon rainforest was featured in the documentary film Yanuni, which she co-produced with Leonardo Di Caprio, has received six death threats from organised crime gangs. The film looks at her fight, since childhood, against the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam in the Xingu river of the Amazon. She told William, on his final day in Brazil, how big business was ruining the environment, specifically in the form of the Belo Monte dam, the third largest in the world , and the Belo Sun mine. Speaking through a translator after meeting Prince William , she said: “I told him that it is getting worse because of violence. I am a young woman and leader of my people and I have already received six direct death threats and have been under protection from the UN for some time and decided to get back to my territory because an organised crime organisation was threatening our territory.” She added that indigenous communities also faced “struggles around drugs, alcohol and violence against women and girls.” For his final engagement of the five-day visit, William met leaders from five different indigenous areas at Emilio Goeldi, which he had visited the day before with Sir Keir Starmer . Before arriving, Prince William was ahead of schedule so decided to stop and greet well-wishers in Downtown Belem, posing for selfies as they chanted “William, William”. Upon arrival at the museum, William was met by Stephanie al-Qaq, UK ambassador to Brazil, met Joenia Wapichana, the first indigenous female lawyer in Brazil and President of the National Association for Indigenous Peoples. They walked together through the botanical garden of the museum grounds before hearing the stories of other people who had been trying to combat the impact that big business was having on their native land. William asked them: “What do you need the most help with?” and added: “We’re there to support you, the guardians.” After the meeting, William said: “Thank you so much all of you, we do hope things improve and everyone realises the importance of what indigenous people and communities do to protect the natural world. You are the guardians and protectors that we all need to support.” He was then handed a jar of local honey, two hand-woven fans and a letter which detailed the struggle of one of the indigenous groups. Written by Angela Amanakwa Kaxuyana, the letter, which William said he would get translated into English, told of the plight of her people who were forced from their land during the 1968 military dictatorship. She said that while in theory politicians have approved legislation to protect the land for the indigenous people, President Lula had yet to sign it off. After the meeting, William walked over to plant a cedar tree within the grounds of the museum.
