In South America, several Indigenous groups choose to embrace their cultural heritage and live separated from the rest of the world. They live on the land of their ancestors and perform an important role in forest conservation. These people are known as Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation.

Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil are all home to Indigenous Peoples who choose to live apart. The highest concentration of these peoples lives in the Amazon. 

Some have called the rainforest home for centuries, while others fled there for safety after the rubber boom.

Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation want privacy and do not want contact with the outside world.

For these Indigenous Peoples, living away from others helps them preserve their way of life. It also keeps them safe. In the past, many experienced violence from outsiders and also saw outsiders destroy the forests they called home.

Because they live in isolation, these Indigenous Peoples lack immunity to common diseases like the flu. Forced contact with outsiders could expose them to these illnesses, which can be deadly.

Isolation allows Indigenous Peoples to preserve their languages, cultures, and beliefs while also protecting their land. They hunt and gather food according to the different seasons and their traditions. They also defend the Amazon against outsiders and developers. Much of their land is rich in resources, such as trees, oil, and plant and animal life. As a result, their homes are under threat from oil exploration, logging, and road construction. Living in voluntary isolation protects their way of life as well as the nature and wildlife near their homes.

Today, many Indigenous leaders and organizations are fighting for this right to live in voluntary isolation—to keep Indigenous Peoples safe from disease and preserve their unique way of life.