Proof of Life: Tracking the Amazon's Hidden Guardians to Protect Their Land

Uncontacted Communities in the Brazilian Amazon

In the dense heart of the north Brazilian Amazon, a ceramic pot and the shell of a turtle—once hunted for its meat—have emerged as the most recent signs of an Indigenous community that is believed to be living deep within the region. These archaeological finds have been appearing since at least 2009, with members of neighboring clans reporting sightings of individuals in the Ituna/Itata area, located in Brazil’s northern Para state.

For now, these nameless and elusive people—potentially belonging to multiple groups—remain among dozens of so-called "uncontacted" communities thought to inhabit the world's largest rainforest. Takamyi Asurini, an elder from the Ita'aka Indigenous village, shared a personal account of a close encounter: “My sister-in-law told me: 'Over there! Over there!' And it was a little boy staring at me from up close.” His stories, along with the objects found in the area, fuel theories about the presence of uncontacted people in Ituna/Itata.

Asurini also showed DISCOVER TREND a scar on his ribs, claiming it was caused by being shot with an arrow by an unknown person in the jungle. However, such testimonies and artifacts are not sufficient to confirm the existence of these communities. Despite this, the region has been granted provisional protected status, aimed at preventing invasions by miners, loggers, and ranchers, thus preserving both the forest and the people believed to reside there.

The Ituna/Itata region spans tens of thousands of hectares, comparable in size to São Paulo, the largest city in Latin America. It became one of the most affected Indigenous territories under former President Jair Bolsonaro, who supported agro-industry and saw a surge in Amazon deforestation during his tenure. Now, advocacy groups are pushing for permanent protection of the area, which would involve stricter land use regulations and enforcement.

Historical Neglect and Challenges

To make the protection permanent, the Brazilian government’s National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai) would need to conduct expeditions to find undeniable proof of the group's existence. One of the challenges lies in the dense Amazon jungle, which is home to rich ecosystems that support migratory agriculture for Indigenous peoples. These communities may travel seasonally to hunt, fish, and gather food.

Under current laws, searchers are not allowed to make contact with these groups, as it could expose them to diseases they have no immunity against. Instead, they are tasked with looking for signs of life in the forest, such as footprints or other traces of human activity.

Brazil recognizes 114 "uncontacted" Indigenous groups, with about a quarter of them officially confirmed. The rest, including those in Ituna/Itata, are considered to have "strong evidence" of their existence. According to Luiz Fernandes, a member of the Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), there has been "historical neglect" of the issue by the state. He argues that while the government acknowledges the possibility of these peoples’ existence, it does not ensure effective measures to protect their territory.

Mita Xipaya, an Indigenous activist, added that the state needs "qualified records" to prove that an area hosts uncontacted people. However, for Indigenous communities, the presence of these groups is felt through nature, the sounds they hear, and even their smells.

Taking Care of the Forest

The Brazilian Amazon has lost nearly a third of its native vegetation since 1988, according to environmental NGO Instituto Socioambiental. In contrast, Indigenous territories have seen less than two percent loss. From 2019 to 2022, the Bolsonaro government suspended the provisional protection of Ituna/Itata, leading to an invasion by land grabbers and making it the most deforested Indigenous area in Brazil.

Although protection was reinstated under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the damage remains visible. During a recent flyover, DISCOVER TREND observed miles-wide patches of devastated soil interspersed with areas of green rainforest.

Brazil will host the COP30 UN climate conference in the Amazonian city of Belém in November. Under Lula, the country has positioned itself as a leader in forest preservation and the fight against global warming. COIAB coordinator Toya Manchineri emphasized that "it's not just about taking care of the forest but also of the people who inhabit it, because it's through them that the forest remains standing."