Puyr Tembé

Roles: Special Guest

PUYR TEMBÉ lives and works in the Amazonian city of Belém, a bustling metropolis of 2 million people known as the “Gateway to the Amazon.” She has endured racism, prejudice, and has greatly missed her daughters and grandchildren who live in the Alto Rio Guama Indigenous territory, to fight for the defense of Indigenous people in Brazil. As an activist and leader on the front line of the Indigenous people’s movement, she’s dedicated her life to encouraging Indigenous involvement at the city, state, and federal level throughout Brazil and the world. “It’s a duty of indigenous people to occupy spaces of power, to decide our lives.”

Puyr says she’d prefer a simple life in the village as a grandmother, but she knows that the fight is too important and that her determination and drive as a leader is too greatly needed. She devotes much of her time to campaigning and negotiating on behalf of the Tembé and other Indigenous peoples with the government in Brasilia, organizing large rallies and marches in the nation’s capital. She previously served as the Manager of Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Indigenous People at the Department of Human Rights offices for the state of Pará, Brazil, and as the President of FEPIPA (Federation of Indigenous Peoples in Pará), an Indigenous-run NGO that facilitates and supports Indigenous leaders presenting to government officials. In early 2023 after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office, Puyr was appointed as the Minister of Indigenous Peoples for the State of Pará.

 

2024 Program(s):

Closing Presentation: We Are Guardians (Shared Earth Foundation Award)