Listening Session With the Ashaninka & Guarani @ Simmons and Simmons

Despite horrific violence, invasion and destruction of their ancestral homeland by multiple industries; the Ashaninka and Guarani share how their love for the forest and their culture fuelled their resilience and commitment to ‘fight back’ by educating loggers and engaging with them to help replant 2 million trees. They share wisdom to help Western ‘modern’ cultures who, in losing their roots lost the understanding of true wealth.

Benki and Moises Piyako are leaders and shamans from the Ashaninka community of Apiwtxa (State of Acre, Brazil). World-renowned for their work through Apiwtxa to regenerate, restore and protect Amazon forest ecosystems, and in support of forest people struggles for their rights, they have been recognised by many prizes, including the United Nations Equator Prize in 2017 and the Newton Prize 2018.

The Guarani inhabit the last remaining forest galleries of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. Their indigenous territories are on the frontline of defence against the rapacious expansion of industrial agricultural monocultures. Brazil’s Atlantic Forest has lost 92% of its forest cover, but through partnerships with other Guarani, the Ashaninka and local organisations, the Guarani of Brazil are regenerating forests, replanting lost species and defending biodiverse land from industrial expansion. In 2018 they won the Newton Prize for this work.

This work needs global support - to find out more and to donate visit www.yvyrupa.org.br/support-cgy/