On Monday, October 16, members of the Indigenous Women's Movement from the Middle Xingu organized a protest that blocked access to the Altamira airport in Pará, Brazil. This demonstration aimed to oppose the installation license granted for a gold mining project by the Canadian company Belo Sun in the environmentally sensitive region of Volta Grande do Xingu. Indigenous leader Sol Juruna articulated the group's position, emphasizing the importance of the Xingu River to their way of life, stating, 'We are fighting for the life of the Xingu river. We do not want to see it destroyed.' This protest highlights the broader concerns of local communities that rely on the river, including fishermen and riverine residents.

Belo Sun is planning to extract five tons of gold per year over the next twelve years in an area that is not only ecologically vulnerable but also home to Indigenous territories and the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant. The project has raised alarms among environmentalists and local communities due to its potentially devastating impacts on the river’s ecosystem and the livelihoods of those who depend on it. The company has defended its operations, stating that the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1) recognized that it has complied with established conditions for the project.

This protest is part of a larger movement among Indigenous groups in Brazil seeking to assert their rights and protect their ancestral lands from exploitation by mining companies. The ongoing conflict reflects deep tensions between economic development priorities and the environmental and cultural rights of Indigenous populations. As global demand for gold increases, similar protests may become more common as communities fight to protect their land and resources.