A Tragic First Contact

Films

Video clips (23)

Beast with Metal Skin

In 1994 a bulldozer driver clearing the forest at night was attacked out of the darkness. Although he didn't know it, he was destroying the gardens and hunting grounds of a group of Ayoreo-Totobiegosode families. One of the Indians, Esoi, was finally forced out of the forest in 2004. Here, he recounts his attack on the bulldozer.

'It was beautiful here'

An Enawene Nawe man tells of his anguish over the deforestation of his tribe's territory by ranchers.

'Blood flows for our land'

Gunmen hired by Paulo César Quartiero, a local farmer and politician, attack a Makuxi Indian community, throwing homemade bombs and firing assault rifles. Ten Indians were wounded. Mr Quartiero was arrested, but released soon after. Warning: this video contains images of violence and injuries which some may find upsetting.

Behind the Lies

Due to the mounting tribal protests and international criticism of their actions in Orissa, India, Vedanta initiated a PR offensive extolling their virtues. But this short film reveals how easily their lies and manipulations can be debunked.

Crisis Point

As bulldozers and cattle ranchers encroach further into their territory the Ayoreo of Paraguay are worried for the safety of their uncontacted relatives.

Virgin Forest

The Batak of the Philippines reveal the devastation caused to their land by illegal loggers and resin-tapping.

'His voice is not silenced.'

In this emotional interview, Marcos Verón's daughter-in-law tells Survival researcher Fiona Watson how she saw her father-in-law killed. At the end, Verón's widow comes up to embrace Fiona.

Poachers

Jarawa denounce poachers who invade their land. This group was filmed as they voluntarily came out of their reserve to complain to local administration officials about the poaching.

'No people is better than another.'

Two Indians from Raposa-Serra do Sol, Jacir José de Souza and Pierlangela Nascimento da Cunha, tell Survival about their lands and lives.

Jorge, a Murunahua man who lost his eye when he was shot by loggers during first contact, recalls the tragedy that followed.

The Evidence

The Peruvian government denies they exist but the evidence is irrefutable. In this short video Teodoro, a local man, describes his encounter with an uncontacted tribe.

'Our land is our heritage.'

Shaman Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, speaks about what the proposed mining bill would mean for his people.

'We live for our Niyamgiri'

The Dongria Kondh have lived in Niyamgiri for thousands of years and their lifestyle and religion have helped nurture the area’s dense forests and unusually rich wildlife.

'Not even this handful of soil'

The Dongria Kondh explain why they vehemently oppose the building of a mine on their land and what they must do to resist it.

On the Run

The Awá are one of only two nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes left in Brazil but their forest is dwindling as settlers and cattle ranchers get ever closer.

An appeal

Actor Richard Gere explains why he supports Survival International.

Encounters with the Uncontacted

Two Peruvian men share their account of seeing an uncontacted tribe.

Death at Devil's Bend

An eyewitness account of the violence that erupted after the Peruvian government decided to break up an indigenous roadblock by force.

Swidden Farming

The Batak of the Philippines rely on their traditional farming methods.

A Poison to the Penan

The Penan of Sarawak express anguish over the logging of their land.

Vedanta Smokescreen

Just as the pilgrims 'bought' Manhatten from the Indians for a handful of trinkets, Vedanta are trying to cheat the Dongria out of their sacred mountain.

Last of the Bo tribe dies

Boa Sr, the last member of the Bo tribe, sings.

"Before we knew it, we'd all caught pneumonia."

The Matis of Brazil recall the devastating impact of first contact.

See all 23 video clips

From the archive (36)

Vengence of the Yakairiti

Brazil's Enawene Nawe rely on the forest and the rivers. How will their ancestral spirits respond to the destruction of their land by ranchers?

CNN Sentinelese

After the tsunami CNN covered the survival of the Sentinelese of the Andaman Islands.

Tribes of the Andamans

An introduction to the tribes of the Andaman Islands

Sacred Sites

Short documentary revealing how the aborigines of Australia prepared their claim for land rights.

Let the Innu Live

In support of the Innu, protesters climbed to the top of Nelson's Column in London to reveal a message for the Canadian government.

Massacres in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

An investigative report by World Television News into the terrible violence inflicted upon the Jumma of Bangladesh.

'Development' comes to the Enxet

Most of the Enxet of Paraguay are now exploited as laborers by the very cattle ranchers who stole their lands.

Aborigines meet the Maasai

In a show of solidarity Aborgines from Australia met with the Maasai in Kenya to share their experience of fighting for land rights.

Surviving Canada

An extract from a documentary examining the terrible effects that years of injustice have had on the Mushuau Innu people of Canada.

Kenya's Castaways

Short film looking at the negative effects Kenya's 'development' processes have had on the Ogiek.

Massana - Moments in Play and Ritual

Short documentary studying the Yaka pygmies use of roleplay in their social rituals.

Doris Pilkington's Bushmen Appeal

Doris Pilkington Garimara, the Aboriginal author of 'Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence', speaks about the Bushmen of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, drawing parallels with her own experience of being taken from her land.

The Bushmen on BBC News

In August 2002 John Simpson reported for BBC News from the Kalahari and from the new eviction sites where the Bushmen had been relocated to.

Appeal from Judi Dench

Actress Judi Dench makes an appeal on behalf of Survival International.

In the Stomach of the Dragon

Documentary made by Small World Productions about the impact of the Grasberg copper and gold mine on the Amungme people, focusing on the military repression long associated with the mine.

The Eviction of the Bushmen

A film crew from Carte Blanche, a South African investigative TV programme, were the only independent journalists actually present during the eviction from the CKGR of the Gana and Gwi Bushmen.

The Grasberg Mine

BBC report on the tension and violence long associated with the Grasberg copper and gold mine in West Papua.

The Hunt

The Nukak are expert hunters. In this extract from 'Nukak-Maku: the last forest nomads', by AVC Rainbow/ Audiovisuales, a group of men set off to hunt monkeys, using their 3m-long blowpipes and poisoned darts.

An Appeal from the Penan

Extracts from Gaia Films' "Into the heart of the last paradise", including an appeal from the Penan for the logging of their forest home to stop.

Roadblocks and Chainsaws

This feature from ITV's Go for Green looks at the impact of logging on the tribespeople of Sarawak, especially the Penan, who blockaded logging roads to prevent the destruction of their forest.

"Soya is killing us," say vegetarian tribe

ITV News report from the Brazilian Amazon on the devastating effects of soya farming on the Enawene Nawe, one of the few Amazonian tribes who eat no red meat.

Awá feature on BBC Four

BBC reporter Mike Donkin investigates the increasing invasions into Awá land perpetrated by loggers, settlers and cattle ranchers.

Gene Hunters

An extract filmed in an Arhuaco village from Gene Hunters, a documentary about the Human Genome Diversity Project, in which geneticists collected blood samples from remote tribal peoples around the world.

Before Columbus

This extract from the documentary Before Columbus, shows how the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, homeland of the Arhuaco (Ika), Arsario and Kogi, has been occupied by outsiders, and how the Indians perceive this.

Contact Mission Sentinelese

Footage from one of many government attempts to establish contact with the isolated Sentinelese by fostering a dependence on outside gifts such as coconuts. After protests by Survival and local supporters, such contact trips have officially stopped, as they put both parties at grave risk.

The Bushmen a special report

Television journalist Sue Lloyd-Roberts explores the political and economic reasons behind the eviction of Gana and Gwi Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Endangered Jarawa

A documentary by Journeyman Pictures, filmed at a time when the Jarawa were losing their fear of the Indian settlers and the vehicles which travel along the highway cutting through their reserve. The road remains open, despite an order from India's Supreme Court that it should be closed.

The Mursi and their Cattle

An extract from Granada TV's Disappearing World trilogy on the Mursi. This clip, taken from the first film 'In Search of Cool Ground', looks at how the Mursi relate to their cattle.

A Mursi Ritual

In this extract from the Disappearing World film 'In Search of Cool Ground', the Mursi stage a ritual attack on their priest. The film was made at a time of great tension between the Mursi and their neighbours the Bodi.

Wrestling Contest

The Nuba are famous for their wrestling contests. This clip, filmed in 1991 and taken from 'Kafi's Story', by Arthur Howes and Amy Hardie, shows a Nuba wrestling bout held during Sudan's civil war; the conflict had a devastating impact on the Nuba.

Contact Expedition

Film of a government contact mission to the Jarawa. Until 1998, the Jarawa resisted contact with the Indian settlers who now occupy their islands, and there were frequent violent clashes. The Indian authorities organised contact expeditions in an attempt to 'pacify' the Jarawa. Such contacts were largely uncontrolled, and put both sides at great risk. Survival campaigned for such trips to be stopped.

Mobil Explore for Oil

This WTN report looked at the controversy surrounding Mobil's exploration in the Peruvian Amazon, in an area known to be inhabited by uncontacted Yora Indians.

Environmental Destruction in Siberia

Presented by Richard Dawkins, this extract from the BBC's Human Rights, Human Wrongs series, looks at the effects of environmental destruction on the tribal peoples of Siberia.

Two Worlds of the Innu

An extract from the documentary, "Two Worlds of the Innu'. Tribal elder Pien Penashue drums and sings to the Animal Master

Contacting the Korubo

An unique video clip showing FUNAI (the Brazilian Indian Affairs Department) making contact with the Korubo. One of the only moments of true 'first contact' ever to be caught on film.

Singing and Dancing

The Dongria Kondh of Orissa, India dance in their traditional style.

See all 36 archive clips