Neidinha Suruí
Meet Neidinha
NGO Leader
Brazil
Neidinha Suruí is a activist, and indigenist with over 40 years of experience supporting Indigenous peoples in the Amazon. Founder of the Kanindé Ethnoenvironmental Defense Association and reseracher since 1992, she specializes in territorial management, ethnozoning, and Indigenous ethnology. She has received the Chico Mendes Award, the Madeira-Mamoré Women's Edition Award, and The 75th Emmy Award for the documentary The Territory. Currently pursuing a PhD at UNIR, Neidinha is a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental conservation, dedicating her life to protecting the Amazon’s cultural and ecological heritage.
Areas of activity:
Conservation
About:
Neidinha Suruí is an activist and indigenist with over 40 years of experience working in the Amazon with both contacted and uncontacted Indigenous peoples. She holds a degree in History and a Master’s in Geography from the Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), where she is currently pursuing a PhD in Geography with a focus on Amazonian Ethnicities and Populations. Her work combines a deep understanding of Indigenous ethnology with a passion for cultural preservation and territorial management.
Since 1992, Neidinha has been a researcher at the Kanindé Ethnoenvironmental Defense Association, an organization she co-founded with friends to coordinate ethno-environmental and cultural projects. Her work spans a wide range of areas, including territorial management, ethnozoning, and the development of Territorial and Environmental Management Plans (PGTA). She has dedicated her career to ensuring the rights of Indigenous peoples and advocating for socio-environmental policies that promote the demarcation of Indigenous lands, the establishment of Conservation Units, and improvements in health and education services.
Neidinha’s activism extends beyond research and advocacy. She is a co-recipient of the Chico Mendes Award, the Madeira-Mamoré Women's Edition Award, and The 75th Emmy Award for the documentary The Territory, which highlights the fight of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people to defend their lands against deforestation and exploitation.
In addition to her work, Neidinha is a human rights and nature activist, deeply involved in movements that protect Indigenous cultures and the Amazon rainforest. Outside of her activism, she finds creative expression in painting on canvas and other materials, reflecting her connection to the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Amazon.