Olimpio Iwyramu Guajajara, seated, coordinates the Guardians of the Forest, stationed in a school in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





A logging truck confiscated by FUNAI, the Brazilian government agency that overseas indigenious affairs in Imperatriz, Maranhão on August 6, 2015. FUNAI provides support to the Guardians of the Forest, a militia group of the Guajajara tribe that is trying to keep loggers from stealing hardwood trees from their land. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Francisco Neto Guajajara, 24 monitors activity at a school house in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Guardian of the Forest members, from left: Francisco Neto Guajajara, 24, Juracy Paulino Guajajara and Ornil Paulino Guajajara, 55, hang out in a school building in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Francisco Neto Guajajara, 24 and other members of the Guardians of the Forest hang out in a school building in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





The Guardians of the Forest use a school house as a base in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





A villager walks down a road that became too difficult to travel by 4wd in the Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





A dog lingers on the street in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





A logging truck lumbers down a road leading out of the Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





A truck laden with logs travels in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 7, 2015. Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Antonio de Oliveira, 48, a federal police officer on assignment with FUNAI reveals a hardwood tree cut and stolen by loggers in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. Oliveira has been working with the Guardians of the Forest to protect their reserve. Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their land. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





A dog snoozes in Bacuri Dois Village in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Aldenir Guajajara, 73, vice chief of the village of Bacuri Dois in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. Some members of some villages have sold trees. He said "Nobody messes with wood here. It's a while since anyone messed with wood. It's much better to work with in the fields, with manioc, to sustain the family." He thought that the Guardians of the Forest made a difference when they were present but that the loggers returned when they were not in the area. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





A child lingers over a propane tank in a home where a chalk board is used to educate children in Bacuri Dois Village in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Toys litter the ground in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Women gather in a small village within the Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Lourenzo Guajajara, 60, chief of the village of Bom Jardim, surrounded by children in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. Guajajara said that the Guardians of the Forest had increased tensions in the area. "It is bringing problems to us". Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Villagers linger at the road leading out of Cigana Village in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. The chief of the village said there are no jobs. One way they make money is by allowing loggers to pass through - for a fee - despite efforts by the Guardians of the Forest to persude them otherwise. Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Valdirmani Guajajara, 42, foreground, near Cigana Village in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. He said that loggers "pay a percentage to pass over our bridge." He was critical of the Guardians of the Forest and said "They (Guardians) have to reach a deal with these people with goodwill. Not everybody likes pressure". Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Children play in a school room in Cigana Village of in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. Members of the community are upset about the condition of the school and since there are few jobs the village allows loggers to pass through - for a fee - despite efforts by the Guardians of the Forest to persude them otherwise. Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





The Guardians of the Forest use a school house as a base in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





The Guardians of the Forest wear boots supplied by FUNAI in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Guardian of the Forest Paulo Paulino Guajajara, 22, departs a school house that serves as a base in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. He said "My mother worries a lot about me, but it is the way you have to go." Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Guardian of the Forest Paulo Paulino Guajajara, 22, wears a pistol while hanging out a a school house that serves as a base in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. He said "My mother worries a lot about me, but it is the way you have to go". Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Guardians of the Forest monitor passerbys entering Juracal Village in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. A log across the road serves as a road block for vehicles other than motorcycles and bicycles. Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. The Guardians of the Forest are an armed militia formed by the Guajajara tribe to protect their reserve. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Centro do Guilherme, Maranhão, Brazil on August 12, 2015. Until recently the town was a center for loggers taking trees out of the Alto Turiacu reserve. Residents say a police operation several months ago virtually eliminated the activity. Current traffic is mostly motor bikes. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Simão Nicaceu, 43, describes changes in Centro do Guilherme, Maranhão, Brazil on August 12, 2015. Until recently the town was a center for logging operations. A police operation several months ago included the seizure of several logging trucks and forced loggers to leave town or pursue different work. Nicaceu owns a restaurant in the town. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





A motorcyclist travels along the road where Eusébio Ka'Apor, 42, was shot and killed near Alto Turiacu Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 12, 2015. Ka'Apor, a community leader in Alto Turiaçu, was killed in April after being ambushed while riding on the back of a motorcycle. Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Brazil. Members of the Ka'Apor tribe have been expelling loggers from the reserve which has led to threats and violence. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Loggers have been stealing hardwood trees from indigenous lands in Alto Turiacu Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 13, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)





Members of the Guardians of the Forest gather in the back of a school in Araribóia Indigenous Reserve, Maranhão, Brazil on August 8, 2015. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post)