Alessandra Korap Munduruku, leader of the Munduruku Indigenous peoples from the Brazilian Amazon, has been awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in recognition of her longstanding and extraordinary activism in defense of the Amazon rainforest and the rights of Indigenous peoples in Brazil and internationally.

Stopping Anglo American’s plan to explore for copper in their territory was one of the many struggles taken on by Alessandra and the Munduruku that led her to be awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize. In May 2021, the company formally committed to withdrawing 27 mining research permits that were slated to overlap Indigenous lands in Brazil. These permits were a major threat to Indigenous peoples, as well as their territories and livelihoods.

We celebrate and honor the life and journey of resistance by the great Indigenous leader Alessandra Munduruku. May her example in defending her territory and advocating for the lives of Munduruku children and women be recognized by all and serve as a source of inspiration and strength for us to continue our work in defense of the Amazon in solidarity with all Indigenous peoples.