EMERGENCY FUNDS NEEDED! *Clean drinking water, read below*
Deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest lives Mapulu Kamayurá, the first female shaman in the history of her people.
For generations, only men were allowed to hold the sacred role of pajé — spiritual healer and guide. But Mapulu changed that forever.
At just 13 years old, Mapulu fell into a mysterious coma that lasted three months. During that time, she says the spirits of the forest visited her, teaching her the ancient knowledge of healing and the sacred traditions of her ancestors. When she awoke, she knew her life had changed — and so had the future of her people.
Despite resistance from her own father, a powerful shaman who believed women could not hold this role, Mapulu followed her calling. Today she is a healer, a leader, and a symbol of Indigenous women rising into positions of spiritual and cultural leadership.
Her story is extraordinary — and now it is becoming a film.
A Film That Will Bring Mapulu’s Story to the World
For the past five years, our team has been documenting Mapulu’s journey in a cinematic film called “Mapulu: The First Shaman.”
The film blends documentary and mystical reenactments to bring viewers into the spiritual world of the Kamayurá people — a world rarely seen by outsiders. It reveals the beauty of their culture, the power of ancestral healing traditions, and the courage of a woman who changed history.
The project is co-produced by filmmakers behind the award-winning We Are Guardians impact campaign, which has helped mobilize global support for Indigenous forest guardians in the Amazon.
Our goal is to bring Mapulu’s story to the hearts of millions of people around the world — inspiring respect for Indigenous wisdom and the forests that sustain our planet.
But this story is not just a film.
It is also about a real community that needs support right now.
A New Village Built by Women
Recently, Mapulu founded a new village called Hiulaya, a matriarchal community where she lives with her family and her people.
Hiulaya represents a powerful vision:
a place where women can lead spiritually, culturally, and politically.
But the village is still new and vulnerable.
Right now the community is facing very basic challenges:
No reliable access to clean drinking water
No sanitation system
No reliable transportation for emergencies
The Xingu River, which once provided pure water for the community, is now increasingly polluted by agricultural runoff and mining upstream. Clean water has become an urgent need.
Mapulu has been working tirelessly to build a future for her people — but she cannot do it alone.
What Your Donation Will Help Build
Together with Mapulu’s family and the Hiulaya Association, we are launching this campaign to build the essential infrastructure the village needs to survive and thrive.
Your support will help fund:
Village Housing
Materials and labor for essential structures
$3,000
Clean Water System
Artesian well, water tank, and water pump to provide safe drinking water
$10,000
Sanitation System
Sustainable septic system and bathroom facilities
$11,000
Emergency Transportation
Motorboat and engine for medical emergencies, transportation, and fishing
$8,000
These resources will help ensure that the community can live with health, dignity, and stability.
Supporting the Film and the Impact Campaign
Your donation will also help us finish post-production and begin distribution for the film Mapulu: The First Shaman.
With your support we will:
- Complete the final stages of the film
- Launch the global festival run
- Begin the impact campaign
- Share Mapulu’s story with audiences worldwide
We believe this film can help spark a global conversation about:
- Indigenous wisdom
- Women’s leadership
- Spiritual connections to nature
- Protecting the Amazon rainforest
- A Vision for the Future
Mapulu has a dream.
She wants to build a House of Healing where traditional medicine can be practiced and passed on to younger generations. She also hopes to host the first Gathering of Shamans, bringing Indigenous healers together to share knowledge and strengthen their cultures.
These dreams begin with something simple:
clean water, safe sanitation, and basic infrastructure for the village.
Why This Matters
The Amazon is often discussed in terms of climate or biodiversity.
But at its heart, the forest is also home to cultures, knowledge systems, and spiritual traditions that have existed for thousands of years.
Join Us
Every contribution — large or small — brings us closer to building a future where Mapulu’s people can thrive.
Together we can help this extraordinary woman continue her work as a healer, leader, and guardian of her culture.
And together we can help bring her story to the world.
Thank you for standing with Mapulu, the people of Hiulaya, and the living wisdom of the Amazon.