Brazilian tribe fights illegal mining

Munduruku Indian warriors navigate the Das Tropas river, a tributary of the Tapajos and Amazon rivers, as they search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory in western Para state, Jan. 17, 2014.

The Munduruku tribe has seen their land encroached on by wildcat miners in search of gold, and the tribe's leaders travelled to the capital, Brasilia, last year to demand the federal government remove non-indigenous miners from their territory.

Rather than wait for a court decision to start the process - which could take years - the Munduruku decided to take matters into their own hands and expel the wildcat miners.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors arrive in the village of Katin at the end of a day of searching for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory near the Kadiriri river, Jan. 25, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors prepare themselves as they approach a wildcat gold mine during a search for illegal mines and miners in their territory near the Das Tropas river, a major tributary of the Tapajos and Amazon rivers in western Para state, Jan. 17, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors approach a gold mine in their territory near the Caburua river, Jan. 20, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory near the Das Tropas river, Jan. 17, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors inspect a wildcat gold mine as they search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory near the Caburua river, Jan. 20, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors stand guard over an illegal gold miner who was detained by a group of warriors searching out illegal gold mines and miners in their territory near the Caburua river, Jan. 20, 2014.

Western Para state

A Munduruku Indian warrior stands guard near illegal gold miners who were detained by warriors searching for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory near the Caburua river, Jan. 20, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors order non-Indian gold miners (R and 2nd R) out of their territory, during an operation to search for illegal gold mines along the Das Tropas river, Jan. 17, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors stand guard over gold miners who were detained by a group of warriors searching for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory, Jan. 20, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory near the Caburua river, Jan. 20, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors transport illegal gold miners by boat after they captured them during a search for illegal mines and miners in their territory, Jan. 17, 2014.

Western Para state

An illegal gold miner steps off a boat after being captured by Munduruku Indian warriors during a search for illegal mines and miners in their territory, Jan. 17, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors light a campfire at the site of an illegal gold mine they discovered during a search for illegal mines and miners, Jan. 17, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory near the Das Tropas river, Jan. 17, 2014.

Western Para state

A Munduruku Indian woman warrior carries a monkey on her head while on a search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory, Jan. 25, 2014.

Western Para state

A Munduruku Indian warrior carries a monkey he hunted for food during a jungle search for illegal mines and miners, Jan. 19, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors stand over an area of jungle cleared by wildcat gold miners during a search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory, Jan. 21, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors arrive at an area of jungle cleared by wildcat gold miners as they search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory, Jan. 26, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian women warriors pay their respects to the oldest living leader of their tribe, Biboy, at the end of a day of searching for illegal gold mines and miners, in the village of Katin, Jan. 25, 2014.

Western Para state

Munduruku Indian warriors hold a meeting while on their search for illegal gold mines and miners in their territory, Jan. 25, 2014.

Western Para state

A Munduruku Indian warrior carries a monkey he hunted for food during a jungle search for illegal mines and miners in their territory, Jan. 21, 2014.