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Members of the Munduruku indigenous tribe walk on a sandbar on the Tapajos River as they prepare for a protest against plans to construct a series of hydroelectric dams on their river in in Para State, Brazil.

Members of the Munduruku indigenous tribe walk on a sandbar on the Tapajos River as they prepare for a protest against plans to construct a series of hydroelectric dams on their river in in Para State, Brazil.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim

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In Photos

Aaron Vincent Elkaim and Nathaniel Brunt among this year's recipients of Alexia Foundation grants for work promoting social justice and cultural understanding.

Elkaim, has won the $20,000 Alexia Foundation Professional Grant for Where the River Runs Through which examines the effects of a massive hydroelectric expansion on indigenous people and ecosystems in the Amazon Rainforest.

Brunt wins the Alexia Foundation Student Grant for #Shaheed, his study of the war in Kashmir. He will use the prize of a semester at Syracuse University to pursue a PhD and produce a book of his work.

Both Toronto photographers have spent several years working on their projects with no funding. The Syracuse University administered Alexia Foundation awards will allow them to continue their work. The Foundation has supported professional and student photojournalists with grants of $947,000 since 1991.

A group of boys climb a tree on the Xingu River by the city of Altamira, Brazil. One third of the city will be permanently flooded by the nearby Belo Monte Dam.

A group of boys climb a tree on the Xingu River by the city of Altamira, Brazil. One third of the city will be permanently flooded by the nearby Belo Monte Dam.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim

This article was published more than 7 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.

"Travelling down a river is like travelling into the past", Elkaim says. "There is just the river and the people who depend on it."

Members of the Munduruku indigenous tribe walk on a sandbar on the Tapajos River as they prepare for a protest against plans to construct a series of hydroelectric dams on their river in in Para State, Brazil.

Members of the Munduruku indigenous tribe walk on a sandbar on the Tapajos River as they prepare for a protest against plans to construct a series of hydroelectric dams on their river in in Para State, Brazil.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim

A Munduruku family watches a Brazilian soap opera in the village of Sawre Muybu. Although living completely off the land their villages have generators, fridges and televisions. Many indigenous communities are provided with these goods by government and industry hoping to win their support for the proposed dams.

A Munduruku family watches a Brazilian soap opera in the village of Sawre Muybu. Although living completely off the land their villages have generators, fridges and televisions. Many indigenous communities are provided with these goods by government and industry hoping to win their support for the proposed dams.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim

A child from the Xikrin village of Pot crô stands for a photo on the banks of the Rio Bacaja, its name meaning

A child from the Xikrin village of Pot crô stands for a photo on the banks of the Rio Bacaja, its name meaning “the water that runs in river is the same as the blood that flows through our veins.” The Xikrin are a warrior tribe that have strongly resisted the dam, but were recently dived into 8 smaller groups due to negotiations with Norte Enegria, the company building the dam.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Veia balances her child who she and her husband David, left, have yet to name in their home on the Extractavist Reserve of Riozinho do Anfrísio. Extractavists are the descendants of Rubber Tapers who came to the forests generations ago during Brazils Rubber Boom. They now live along the river banks with an economy based on harvesting sustainable natural products such as rubber, nuts, and oils.

Veia balances her child who she and her husband David, left, have yet to name in their home on the Extractavist Reserve of Riozinho do Anfrísio. Extractavists are the descendants of Rubber Tapers who came to the forests generations ago during Brazils Rubber Boom. They now live along the river banks with an economy based on harvesting sustainable natural products such as rubber, nuts, and oils.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Nathaniel Brunt explores the changing relationship between war, history and photography in the contemporary world.

A group of men gather for a procession in Sopore after the release of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who had spent 236 days under house arrest. (Fall 2013)

A group of men gather for a procession in Sopore after the release of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who had spent 236 days under house arrest. (Fall 2013)

Nathaniel Brunt

Drummers at a wedding ceremony in Chittybandi. (Spring 2013)

Drummers at a wedding ceremony in Chittybandi. (Spring 2013)

Nathaniel Brunt

The 'Line of Control' separating India and Pakistan. (Summer 2014)

The ‘Line of Control’ separating India and Pakistan. (Summer 2014)

Nathaniel Brunt

The Ahmed family at their home In Chittybandi. (Spring 2013)

The Ahmed family at their home In Chittybandi. (Spring 2013)

Nathaniel Brunt

Thousands of people gather in Kakapora, Kashmir for the funeral of 21 year old Talib Ahmed Shah, a Kashmiri Lashkar-e-Taiba militant. (Summer 2015)

Thousands of people gather in Kakapora, Kashmir for the funeral of 21 year old Talib Ahmed Shah, a Kashmiri Lashkar-e-Taiba militant. (Summer 2015)

Nathaniel Brunt