Photographs by Mariana Greif, Pablo Albarenga, and Soll Sousa, made in collaboration with Daniela Silva, Francineide Ferreira dos Santos, Maycom Santos Cabrera, Raimunda Gomes da Silva, and Raimundo “Berro Grosso” in Altamira, Brazil
How far does the death of a river extend?
"I recall when my brother told me: 'Sister, something terrible is looming over our town... Many men gathered along the riverbank. The ports are bustling with people.'"
In 2016, a monumental concept transcended the boundaries of paper to become the largest hydroelectric dam on Earth then.
Nestled in the state of Pará, Brazil, it transformed Altamira into an unintended epicenter of violence, catalyzing a swift population boom that catapulted the
city into the unenviable ranks of the country's most violent. Yet, the ripples of this transformation extend far beyond the crowded streets of Altamira.
Ascending the currents of the Xingu River, the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam yielded consequences that reached deep into the lives of those for whom the river was both a lifeline and a way of life. Much like the river itself, their existence was forever changed, entwined in a shared struggle for survival.
'Memories of the River' is a collaborative project that seeks to breathe life back into stories that hang by a thread within the memories of those who were once an integral part of the river's tapestry, drawn and narrated in the first-person voices of individuals like Francineide, Raimundo, Daniela, and Raimunda, native witnesses to the disruption of their connections with the river. Their homes were set ablaze, submerged, or razed to the ground, all due to the establishment of this hydroelectric behemoth, and still today, they dream of the day when they will return to the water that raised them.
I was born in a very beautiful place. I was born inside a canoe, to a very lovely couple. My father, a fisherman, native to the region, and my mother, a laundry woman.
Francineide Ferreira dos Santos
I always felt like the water was me. My father was my greatest teacher. We were thirteen siblings at the time, eight girls. I was the only daughter my father trusted his fishing net to, I remember when we came back, he'd say: "This net today, didn't catch anything, Francineide, figure it out." I'd look for ant hills, I'd take seven chili peppers, and I'd prepare the cure for my father's nets, to catch fish.
My memory takes me to a truly special day. My father was the first fisherman on the Xingu River to catch a filhote weighing 120 kilograms. The fish was so immense that several people had to come and help pull it out of the water. I was joyful, standing at the riverside.
LISTEN TO FRANCINEIDE
I want to remember everything so that one day I can share my story with my grandchildren, and tell it in a way that truly captures how life was, what that universe that I once had looked like and now has completely gone.
Raimundo Berro Grosso
In my chosen memory, I find myself casting my fishing net into the water during the night. I'm fishing for tucunaré. Despite the darkness, I can see everything clearly; my guiding star is shining brightly, illuminating everything to grant me a successful catch.
LISTEN TO RAIMUNDO
It was hot. I remember it started to rain... that late afternoon rain, and suddenly all the kids were playing in the mud. I remember we used the mud like a slide, gliding around. Cold rain but delightful. We were smiling, so happy. Truly happy. It was a simple but nice childhood.
Daniela Silva
In the memory I’ve chosen we still live in our old house, surrounded by our beautiful neighbours. My mom and I were extracting the pulp from the açaí berries while my late brother was climbing the açaí palms to harvest the fruit.
LISTEN TO DANIELA
Oh, taking a bath in the Xingu River is a journey that feels like I'm traveling through time... the journey of time itself. It rejuvenates my body, allowing the water to carry away all my weariness. That's how I feel when I'm in the Xingu, giving away my fatigue, surrendering my pains.
Raimunda Gomes da Silva
In my memory, I'm sitting on my wooden pier, in front of my house that was later burned down. I am cutting fish fillets and squeezing lemon over them. In my house, we had several fruit trees, bananas, cashews, cacao, and also a Piranha tree, the tree that provides shade and shelter for fish to spawn.
LISTEN TO RAIMUNDA
There are mysterious things in the river, things that are real, but not everyone can see them
Francineide Ferreira dos Santos
