Alberto Curamil

{{Short description|Mapuche indigenous leader}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Alberto Curamil

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| birth_date = c. 1974

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| nationality = Chilean

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| occupation = Indigenous leader, Mapuche spokesperson

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| awards = Goldman Environmental Prize (2019)

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Alberto Curamil (born c. 1974) is a Chilean and Mapuche indigenous leader from the Araucanía Region. He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2019, for his efforts to protect the Cautín River from hydroelectric development projects.{{cite web|url=https://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/alberto-curamil/

|title=Alberto Curamil

|website=goldmanprize.org |access-date=16 August 2019 }}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/jailed-chilean-anti-dam-warrior-awarded-2019-goldman-environmental-prize

|title=Jailed Chilean Anti-Dam Warrior Awarded 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize

|first=Zoe |last=Loftus-Farren

|magazine=Earth Island Journal

|date=29 April 2019

|access-date=16 August 2019 }}{{cite web

|url=https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-alberto-curamil

|title=Statement On Alberto Curamil

|first=Patrick

|last=Leahy

|authorlink=Patrick Leahy

|date=23 May 2019

|access-date=16 August 2019

|archive-date=15 August 2019

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815235436/https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/statement-on-alberto-curamil

|url-status=dead

}}

In 2018, he was arrested and jailed for 15 months for armed robbery but was later acquitted of all charges and released in December 2019.{{cite news |title=Opinion: He has worked to protect the Earth. Now we must protect him. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/07/01/alberto-curamil-chile-environmental-defender-safety/ |agency=Washington Post |publisher=Washington Post}} In April 2021, he sustained injuries after a confrontation with police which led to him being hit with riot shotgun pellets.{{cite news |title=Fears for Chilean indigenous leader’s safety after police shooting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jun/30/fears-for-chilean-indigenous-leaders-safety-after-police-shooting |agency=Guardian |publisher=Guardian}}

He holds the position of lonco, a chief of several communities.{{cite news |title=Mapuche Rising |url=https://www.abc.net.au/foreign/mapuche-rising/13800682 |access-date=17 March 2022 |work=Foreign Correspondent |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}