Watch Guardians of the Amazon

Guardians of the Amazon is a documentary series focusing on the indigenous communities of the Amazon rainforest and their struggle to protect their way of life and the environment against modernization, deforestation, and the encroaching global market. The show follows the stories and daily lives of several indigenous tribes, revealing their intimate relationship with the rainforest and the spirit world that they inhabit. Through the eyes of these communities, the audience is introduced to the complex web of relationships that exist within the rainforest ecosystem and the broader cultural landscape of the Amazon.

Throughout the series, viewers witness the damage caused by unsustainable resource exploitation, such as mining, logging, and agribusiness, and how the indigenous people are fighting back. The programs explore their unwavering determination to safeguard their land, and the deep-seated belief that the protection of the Amazonian landscape is necessary to ensure the survival of their people.

One episode of the series profiles the Yanomami tribe, who have lived in the Amazon for thousands of years, but who have seen their way of life threatened by illegal mining and deforestation. The show follows the Yanomami people as they try to reclaim and protect their land and demonstrates how their efforts are connected to the broader fight against deforestation and climate change.

Another episode describes how the Surui tribe has been working with environmental organizations to develop sustainable forestry projects that balance economic gain and environmental stewardship. The Surui were once a warring tribe, but they now work together to preserve the integrity of the forest floor and defend their culture.

The series also highlights the challenges facing the Yanomami tribes who live on the borders between Brazil and Venezuela, where illegal gold mining is wreaking havoc with local water supplies and causing mercury contamination. In the series, the Yanomami highlight their dependence on fish caught in streams and rivers, and the way in which illegal mining is reducing fish stocks and poisoning the water.

Ultimately, the series is a snapshot of the lives and struggles of indigenous Amazonian people, and a reminder of what is at stake in protecting these communities and the environment that sustains them. It is a powerful testament to the resilience and co-existence between humans and their natural surroundings and a call-to-action to better understand and protect the world's resources.

Guardians of the Amazon is a series that ran for 1 seasons (1 episodes) between February 21, 2020 and on ABC News