Alexander, Linda B.

Linda Alexander acquired a collection of objects in 1989, in Belém do Pará, Brazil. She had travelled there as part of a group organized by Dr. Tara Cullis to support the Kayapo or Mebêngôkre in their struggle against plans to build an electric dam in Altamira, in the Xingu valley, that would have submerged their land. The party included musician Gordon Lightfoot, Haida leader Guujaw, Kwakwaka’wak artist Simon Dick and others. The group went to the Amazon at the behest of Mebêngôkre leader Bepkoroti, aka Paulinho Paiakan, who had travelled to the US and Canada to advocate for his cause. At the meeting in Altamira Mebêngôkre leader Raoni met British pop star Sting, garnering huge media exposure; soon afterwards the World Bank withdrew the funds for the dam project. The hydroelectric plans were resurrected in the early 2000s, however, and in May 2016 Brazilian authorities opened the first stage of the Belo Monte Dam 40 km north of Altamira. The effects on the people living in the Xingu River basin were devastating, leading the Mebengokre to move to the Xingu Park.