As climate change reshapes Indigenous territories across Brazil, a new generation of Indigenous youth is turning to culture and digital platforms to defend their lands and future. Ahead of the UN day celebrating the world’s Indigenous Peoples on Sunday, 9 August 2026, three young Indigenous leaders shared how they are using their voices and creativity to reach millions.
Among them are Marciele Albuquerque, a dancer and entrepreneur from the Munduruku people; singer-songwriter Kaê Guajajara from the Guajajara people; and photographer and communicator Cristian Wariu from the Xavante people. All three are members of the UN’s Verified initiative, which counters climate-related misinformation.
Marciele, who grew up in Juruti in the Brazilian Amazon, said, “We can feel it’s getting hotter every year. The fruits are no longer as abundant as they used to be.” Cristian Wariu highlighted the devastating impact of uncontrollable wildfires, stating, “Life has become increasingly unsustainable because these fires are now uncontrollable. They severely affect the Xavante people’s food chain, and that also makes it easier for foods that are not good for our people to enter our communities.”
For these young leaders, distinguishing fact from misinformation is critical to helping vulnerable communities prepare for climate threats. Music has become an act of resistance; as Marciele explained, “Our traditional songs once celebrated the beauty of nature and our relationship with it. Today, those same songs speak about our territories and about being forcibly removed from them.”
Kaê Guajajara rejects the notion that Indigenous identity is lost through modern technology, noting, “Today it’s increasingly common to hear the sound of the maracá alongside synthesizers.”
These voices illustrate how Brazil’s Indigenous youth are combining tradition and innovation to raise awareness and resist the accelerating loss of their ancestral lands.
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