Portraits of Indigenous People From Around the Globe Details Their Plight

Jan 11, 2023

Matt Growcoot

peru — Alina Surquislla Gomez, Quechua, Peru, 2021 – At an altitude of more than 17,000 feet, the Quechua alpaquera Alina cradles a baby alpaca on her way to the summer grazing of her family’s alpaca herd, in the Andes. Shrinking glaciers and increased drought are drying pastures, forcing the herders — many of whom are women — to search for new grazing grounds, often in difficult terrain | © Alessandro Cinque

These incredible photos capture members of Indigenous communities from around the world, shining a light on their lives.

Survival International has released its 2023 calendar featuring 12 photos that feature Indigenous communities from the Far North of Russia to the Peruvian Andes.

Sama-Bajau boy, Malaysia, 2013 – A boy joyfully jumping from his house into the sea. The Bajau spend most of their lives at sea. When hunting for fish, pearls and sea cucumbers on the sea bed, they can free-dive to a depth of up to 20 meters, and hold their breath for up to three minutes | © Pierre de Vallombreuse

Kayapó (Mebêngôkre) girl, Brazil, 2022 – Young Kayapó (Mebêngôkre) girl at a protest in Brasília. Every year, in April, thousands of Brazilian indigenous people travel many kilometers from territories across the country to gather at the Free Land Camp in the capital, to protest in defense of their lands and lives | © Ekuná Kamayurá

Nenets camp, Russia, 2019 – Although they may have to leave their family to go to school, many Nenets children then return to live in the tundra. Tribal children are the inheritors of their territories, languages, and unique ways of seeing the world, and the custodians of their ancestors’ knowledge | © Yuliya Vassilyeva

“Survival International fights for tribal peoples’ survival,” a representative tells PetaPixel.

“We stop loggers, miners, and oil companies from destroying tribal lands, lives, and livelihoods across the globe. We lobby governments to recognize Indigenous land rights. We document and expose the atrocities committed against tribal people and take direct action to stop them. We give tribal peoples a platform to speak to the world.”