Daily life on a remote Amazon island goes on despite diplomatic dispute

SANTA ROSA, Peru (AP) — Rain or shine, every weekday from March to December, boat owner Salvador Mitidieri ferries students from the shore of the Amazon River in Brazil to the only primary school in miles on Santa Rosa — a remote island that is now the subject of a territorial dispute between Peru and Colombia.

Mitidieri's daily job is just one example of how the diplomatic quarrel between the two South American neighbors over the island has had little effect on the life of its roughly 3,000 residents.

Peru maintains it owns Santa Rosa Island based on treaties about a century old, but Colombia disputes that ownership because the island had not yet emerged from the Amazon River at the time.

Despite the ongoing exchange of words between government officials, life in Santa Rosa continues undisturbed. Residents identify as Peruvians, but coexist peacefully with their Colombian and Brazilian neighbors, and often rely on those countries for basic needs.

Named after a 16th-century saint, Santa Rosa has no running water or sewage system. People cross the river to cities in Colombia or Brazil to see a doctor, but children from those places come here to attend school.

"People from Colombia, Peru and Brazil live normally,” said Melany Mejía, a 17-year-old Peruvian who lives in Tabatinga, Brazil, but attends middle school in Santa Rosa. “The merchants, the tourists, the people, everyone treats each other with good spirits,” she said.

Upon finishing high school in December, Mejía hopes to become a nursing assistant. She’s still considering her options, which include attending school in either Leticia, Colombia; Tabatinga, Brazil or Iquitos, Peru, a 16-hour boat ride from her home in Santa Rosa.

Mitidieri, the boat operator, begins his workday on the Tabatinga dock in Brazil, waiting to ferry students to Santa Rosa’s sole primary school, identified only by the number “601014.”

The students, all of whom are either Peruvian or born to Peruvian parents in Tabatinga, take the 10-minute boat ride to attend the school where all classes are taught in Spanish.

“I feel calm here, working with my colleagues. We all know each other,” said Mitidieri, 36, referring to his foreign neighbors. He said he believes the local relationships have nothing to do with the dispute between countries and that leaders like Colombian President Gustavo Petro simply don’t know the reality in the Amazon.

“Maybe the children I bring will one day be doctors, lawyers, police officers,” he said, steering his boat, as dozens of other small vessels crossed the Amazon River in different directions.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Students arrive in Santa Rosa, Peru, where they attend school, after crossing the Amazon River from Tabatinga, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Students commute to school on Salvador Mitidieri's boat across the Amazon River from Tabatinga, Brazil, to Santa Rosa, Peru, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Salvador Mitidieri helps schoolchildren board his boat after classes in Santa Rosa, Peru, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Students board Salvador Mitidieri's boat in Tabatinga, Brazil, to commute to school in Santa Rosa, Peru, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves for his NHL-leading fifth shutout of the season, Anthony Duclair scored the game's only goal in the third period on the power play and the New York Islanders edged the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 on Thursday night.

Duclair broke the deadlock with 6:18 remaining in the third period after Calum Ritchie sent a backhand pass to him. Mathew Barzal also assisted on the goal, giving him 500 career points in his 576th game over 10 NHL seasons.

Leon Draisaitl — whose tripping penalty put the Islanders on the power play for their goal — nearly tied it with just over 30 seconds left, but his shot in close hit off the far post to the right of Sorokin.

Connor McDavid, who would've had an assist if Draisaitl's shot went in, had his 20-game points streak end. He joined Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey as the only three players in Oilers franchise history to have a points streak of at least 20 games.

It was the 27th career shutout for Sorokin, extending his franchise record. It was the Islanders' first shutout in Edmonton since Billy Smith also stopped 35 shots in New York's 2-0 victory in Game 1 of the 1983 Stanley Cup Final.

The Islanders, who have won four of six overall, had lost their last six games in Edmonton, dating to 2017. They were 1-12-0 against the Oilers in Edmonton since the 2007-08 season.

Connor Ingram made 17 saves for the Oilers, who have dropped three of their last four.

Islanders: Play at Calgary on Saturday.

Oilers: Play at Vancouver on Saturday night.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (48) takes a shot on net against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) makes a save against New York Islanders' Kyle MacLean (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Anthony Duclair (11) celebrates with his teammates at the bench after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a save the against Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Islanders' Calum Ritchie (64) checks Edmonton Oilers' Curtis Lazar (20) in front of Islanders' goalie Ilya Sorokin (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)