”Yanuni”: Film Follows Brazilian Indigenous Leader Juma Xipaia’s Fight for the Amazon

The documentary Yanuni profiles Indigenous chief and activist Juma Xipaia, who has survived six assassination attempts while defending her people’s land from illegal gold miners and deforestation. Shortlisted for a 2026 Academy Award, the film highlights her fight for Indigenous sovereignty and the preservation of the Amazon, her historic appointment as Brazil’s first secretary of Indigenous rights and the challenges faced during the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Democracy Now! recently spoke with Juma Xipaia as well as director Richard Ladkani.