The Amazon is home to hundreds of Indigenous nations whose voices have protected the rainforest for generations. Today, with climate threats mounting and land rights under attack, a new wave of Indigenous leaders is rising – artists, activists, healers, and youth defenders sharing their stories on their own terms.

While many of their ancestors fought in silence, these leaders are using social media, art, and political platforms to speak out and amplify ancestral knowledge, expose environmental injustice, and build global solidarity. From ministers and filmmakers to forest guardians and spiritual healers, these are some of the most inspiring voices working to protect the Amazon and their people.

Here are just a few of the Indigenous changemakers we’re following right now…

Brazil’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sônia has spent decades on the frontlines of Indigenous resistance. A former teacher and nurse, she co-founded APIB and now leads federal efforts to defend Indigenous territories and rights. Named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list, her Instagram shows powerful moments from global summits, ancestral ceremonies, and daily political advocacy.

A formidable voice in the fight to preserve Tapajós lands, Alessandra is the first woman to serve as president of the Pariri Indigenous Association. Her tireless leadership halted dozens of mining requests threatening over 400,000 acres. Awards include the Goldman Environmental Prize (2023) and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (2020). Her Instagram is a blend of community strategy sessions, elder storytelling, and echoes of river resistance.

Scholar turned legislator, Célia brings ancestral wisdom into Brazil’s National Congress. As a federal deputy, she fights for Indigenous education, equitable land rights, and climate justice. On her feed: shared classroom stories, legislative campaigns, and moments of kinship with her community.

Catapulted into global consciousness with her address at COP26, Txai blends heartfelt storytelling with bold climate advocacy. As executive producer of The Territory, she earned an Emmy for spotlighting Indigenous resistance. Her Instagram chronicles forest patrols, youth gatherings, and cross-cultural exchange.

Born in Acre, the daughter of rubber-tappers, Marina’s life-work has been defence of the forest—from grassroots organising to shaping environmental policy in Congress and presidential cabinets. Her feed balances eco-policy snapshots, forest photos, and personal reflections grounded in land justice.

Brazil’s first Indigenous woman elected to Congress and now head of FUNAI, Joênia wields both legal and political power in the fight for Indigenous land rights. Her Instagram blends court updates, public hearings, and quiet moments from healing circles with her community.

A filmmaker, climate activist, and co‑coordinator of Mídia Indígena, Priscila uses the power of audiovisual storytelling to show how Amazonian rivers and cultures are changing under corporate pressure. Named among the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action (EFE & Sanchamama, 2023/24), she shares documentary stills, river reflections, and activism in motion.

Chief of the Yawanawá people since age 25, Tashka leads over 900 community members in stewardship of nearly half a million acres of rainforest. Educated abroad, he has helped double their territory, revive cultural traditions, and found global partnerships. His Instagram and various TED talks blend Indigenous cosmology, ancestral ceremony, and political resolve.

With over 170K followers, Tukumã uses humour, ancestral cuisine, and Indigenous language to challenge stereotypes and celebrate Pataxó identity. As communications lead for the Pataxó Youth Association, he bridges tradition and activism—inviting audiences into shared kitchens, kitchens of resistance, and kitchens of the heart.

A globally respected Kayapó chief now in his late 80s, Raoni has championed Indigenous rights and rainforest protection since the 1980s. He protested large-scale development projects, confronted government leaders worldwide—including Jair Bolsonaro and Lula—and remains vocal today, opposing oil drilling in the Amazon and preserving cultural heritage. His presence in photos, speeches, and memoirs resounds as a call for generational resilience.

A leader of the Guardians of the Forest—an Indigenous patrol unit defending the Arariboia territory—Olimpio has helped lead efforts that have reduced illegal logging inside the reserve and protect communities living alongside uncontacted Awá peoples. Facing threats and violence head-on, his work embodies the frontline defence of the Amazon.

A Waorani leader and co-founder of the Ceibo Alliance, Nemonte led a landmark. legal victory that protected 500,000 acres of rainforest from oil drilling. Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and a Goldman Prize winner, she blends ancestral wisdom with global advocacy. Her feed shares moments from the forest, frontline activism, and cross-border solidarity between Indigenous nations.

A Sápara spiritual leader and healer, Manari blends ancestral wisdom with activism to protect one of the Amazon’s most endangered territories. He co-founded the Naku ecotourism project and leads dream-based ceremonies rooted in Sápara cosmology. His feed shares forest teachings, healing practices, and Indigenous resistance through spiritual connection.