When the novel coronavirus first began to emerge as a global pandemic, its spread also carried centuries of collective memories of the diseases that previously decimated indigenous peoples across the Americas.

Indigenous peoples sounded the alarm and took preventative action long before governments began to address public health needs. COVID-19 poses an immense threat to indigenous communities because of the entrenched socio-economic discrimination and marginalization that deprive their communities of life-saving resources.

Since the onset of this crisis, Amazon Watch has mobilized to support emergency communications, humanitarian aid, and territorial defense. But as each day passed, the needs and requests of our partners across the Amazon dramatically increased. In response, we organized to unite indigenous and NGO allies to advance a collective emergency response to COVID-19 in the Amazon.

As part of that effort, today we are co-hosting Artists United for Amazonia: Protecting the Protectors, a livestream benefit event for the Amazon Emergency Fund, featuring musical performances, entertainment influencers, indigenous leaders, activists, scientists, and conservation advocates.