AUTHORITIES in Brazil are suing the giant mining company Vale, the Brazilian government and the Amazon state of Para over heavy metal contamination in the bodies of Xikrin indigenous people.

The civil lawsuit, filed by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office last Friday, but only disclosed on Tuesday, alleges contamination from Vale’s nickel mining at the Onca-Puma site, with the Catete River carrying mine pollution into indigenous territory. 

In 2022, the company and the Xikrin reached an agreement for monthly compensation, but it did not cover health issues, according to the prosecution.