Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Felipe de Carvalho
August 9, 2026 Climate and Environment
As the lands of the indigenous peoples of Brazil are reshaped by climate change, a new generation of the country’s original inhabitants is coming to the forefront of resistance. They see temperatures rising, devastating fires raging, their ancestors’ lands being lost, and familiar sources of food disappearing. At the same time, a new era opens up spaces in the digital world, where social networks, music, photography, and dance form a powerful form of resistance.
On the eve of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, celebrated on August 9, the UN News Service spoke with three youth leaders who use their voices—and their creativity—to reach millions of people online.
When the forest stops feeding
Among the guests of the UN News Services were dancer and entrepreneur Marsiele Albuquerque (Munduruku people), singer and songwriter Kae Guajajara (Guajajara people), and photographer Cristian Variu (Xavante people). All three participate in the UN Verified initiative, aimed at combating climate misinformation.
Marsiele grew up in Juruti, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, where childhood meant playing outdoors, swimming in rivers, and harvesting fruit just steps from the village. Today, it is a very different story.
“We feel that every year is getting hotter,” she says. “The fruits are no longer as abundant as before. They used to grow right next to the village, in the forest. Now we have to go much further – and there are still fewer of them. We see how the seasons have changed: droughts have become extreme, and floods too.”
© Agência Brasil/M. Camargo Increasingly intense fires are reshaping the everyday life of indigenous communities.
Fires change everyday life
Cristian Variu is from the Araguaia valley, Mato Grosso state. There, increasingly intense fires are reshaping the Cerrado natural area, disrupting the daily lives of indigenous communities. The consequences go far beyond ecology.
“Living is becoming increasingly difficult because the fires are no longer controllable,” he says. “They severely disrupt the food chains that form the basis of the Shavante people’s diet. As a result, products that are harmful to us are increasingly entering our communities. One problem leads to another — and ultimately it all affects our health.”
According to UN estimates, more than 370 million indigenous people worldwide are already facing the impacts of climate change – and the situation is worsening as global temperatures rise.
Music is a survival tool
Born in Mirinzal, Maranhão state, Kae Guajajara believes that the current environmental crisis is the result of a development model imposed on indigenous peoples from outside. She emphasizes that distinguishing between facts and disinformation today is very important, as it helps communities prepare for climate threats in advance.
For Kae, music became an act of resistance: “Our songs once celebrated the beauty of nature and our connection with it. Today, these same songs tell of the disasters befalling our lands and how we are forced to leave them. They speak of deforestation. We live in a new reality. We tell these stories through music, rethinking ourselves and our time.”
@ SESC Santana/visaovh Fragment of Caê Guajajara’s performance at the music festival.
Kae, who grew up in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, reminds that about half of Brazil’s indigenous population today lives in cities. She calls for more active government support of urban indigenous communities.
Kae notes the growing presence of Indigenous artists in the music industry and sees this as an opportunity to heal a longstanding colonial wound.
Digital activity
Recalling past generations, Cristian Variu says that they were the ones who secured constitutional rights for their peoples and created organizations that strengthened civil institutions. His own generation fights on a different front: “When I assess the actions of indigenous peoples today, I see that our main contribution is communication. Our presence on screens and in the media has become a force.”
According to him, increasing digital activity helps indigenous peoples participate in the work of political institutions and decision-making, which was previously unavailable to them.
Photo from K. Variu’s personal archive Photographer Cristian Variu is from the Araguaia Valley, Mato Grosso state.
“Art is also a way to fight”
Marsiele Albuquerque knows this better than most. She became the first woman among indigenous representatives to be awarded the title of Cunyá-Poaranga – the highest honor at the famous Parintins folklore festival. She uses dance to celebrate her ethnic identity and inspire a new generation.
One of the songs that accompanied Marsiele’s creative triumph – Guerreira das Lutas – still evokes strong emotions in her: “Many peoples are listed in the chorus: Munduruku, Tupinambá, Kaiapó, Atroari, Asurini, Zo’é, Sateré, Kĩsêdjê… This part gives me the most strength because I represent not just my own people. I represent the incredible diversity of Brazil’s indigenous peoples.”
The song written in her honor in 2022 became popular across the country after her participation in the reality show Big Brother Brasil.
For Marsiele, art is not entertainment but a way to fight. She believes that the Parintins festival allows viewers to engage with the issues of indigenous peoples while simultaneously honoring their culture.
Photo from the personal archive of M. Albuquerque Marciél Albuquerque performing at the Parintins festival in 2026.
The power of the soma tree
Kae Guajajara is walking the same path in music, breaking stereotypes that indigenous people lose their identity by using smartphones or creating electronic music. On the contrary, she says, indigenous artists expand traditions by weaving them into new musical languages: “Today, one increasingly hears the sound of maracas against the backdrop of synthesizers.”
Performing at major festivals in Brazil and abroad, Kaé also promotes the language of the Guajajara people. One of her most famous songs – Samaúma – carries a message that accurately conveys her philosophy.
“I really like this song,” she says, “because it says: no matter how much concrete is poured onto the ground, the roots will still break through. They will grow, break the concrete, and take back everything that is theirs.”
For Kae, the samaua is a majestic ancient tree, revered by many peoples, symbolizing resilience, endurance, and life itself.
On the eve of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, all three guests of the UN News Service emphasize: trials do not weaken indigenous peoples, they make them stronger, more united, and more determined. They are like the roots of Samauma, the legendary “Queen of the Forest,” which rises from the ground despite all obstacles.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.