Spirit of the Amazon

Sue and Patrick Cunningham, photographer and writer, are partners in life. They are dedicated to showing how the future of the planet can be better than the present, and they are passionate about Brazil's indigenous people. In the heart of Brazil lies the Xingu, one of the world's last great wildernesses, which is home to ancient forests and peoples with ancient roots. For twenty-five years Sue and Patrick made short visits to indigenous communities in areas which are remote from contact with the rest of the country. Winning the Neville Shulman Award from the Royal Geographical Society enabled them to lose themselves in the Xingu for six months. They grew to understand the depth of the cultural disparity which makes indigenous peoples different while recognising the common humanity which they share with all the peoples of the planet. "Our hosts on the Xingu River were generous with us; they fed us, and they nourished our souls. They asked us to tell their story, to show the world that they are one with the forests, the rivers, the rocks, the trees and the sky, but to make people understand that they, too, are men and women, human beings, with hopes, aspirations and dreams for the future of their children and grandchildren."

Incredibly it has been almost 30 years since Sue Cunningham and I first shared a visit to the Xingu. We were younger then, and filled with hope for the future of our Kayapó friends. We were encouraged by the recently-adopted 1988 Brazilian constitution which explicitly recognised the rights of all of Brazil’s indigenous peoples.Great things have been achieved since then. By setting up the Rainforest Foundation we persuaded the Brazilian government to establish the Menkragnoti Indigenous Territory, which is twice the size of Wales, back in 1991. By 2012 deforestation had fallen to its lowest level since records began, and nowadays there are many well-qualified indigenous teachers, nurses, even lawyers and town councillors, all working for their communities. Our indigenous friends are more confident in the strength of their culture and in their own spiritual values.Sue and Patrick have never ceased to fight for the rights of indigenous people by dedicating their time to raise public awareness of the challenges facing them, and working tirelessly to support the Indians at every step.This book charts the changes in the lives and fortunes of these incredible people. It focuses on their humanity and on their individuality. It shows that they are people, just as we are people, and not simply exotic objects. It tells us that they have a fundamental right to our respect, and that we have an obligation to protect their land, their environment and their chosen way of life.But the book is a timely reminder that Brazil’s indigenous people live under constant threat. In the last five years deforestation has crept upwards again, reaching dangerous levels which threaten to undermine global efforts to curb climate change, and recently the politics of Brazil has turned against its indigenous peoples. Demarcation of their lands has ground to a halt and there are powerful moves to remove many of the rights recognised in the 1988 constitution. - Sting

• Foreword by StingBackground & ContextPreparations for the JourneyThe Indigenous Park of the XinguKayapó TerritoryThe Lower XinguCeremonies and CelebrationsCommunity LifeBody AdornmentNegative InteractionsPositive InteractionsConclusions