Leaders told the story of the demarcation of the Indigenous Land to the youngest, reflected on the setbacks in the Bolsonaro government and pointed out ways for the future
On the shores of Lake Caracaranã, located in the municipality of Normandia, in the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, about two thousand indigenous people from 11 regions of Roraima gathered to celebrate 50 years of “union, struggle, resistance and achievements” of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR).
Lasting four days, from the 16th to the 19th of January, the party was attended by important leaders, knowledgeable about the 50-year history of CIR's activities – a “living library”.
Indigenous leaders from the 11 coordinations that have already passed through the CIR recalled the intense dispute with invading landowners, cases of violence and the fight for the repossession of the land. Finally, they exalted the ratification of the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, demarcated in 1998 and ratified by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) on April 15, 2005, during his first term.
The indigenous people of Roraima also reflected on the challenges experienced in the last four years with the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and proposed to outline new goals with the arrival of the third Lula government.
Edinho Batista, current general coordinator of the CIR, stated that among the priorities are the discussion of the protection of territories, sustainable production in indigenous communities and the strengthening of the use of renewable energies – as opposed to the negative impact of large hydroelectric plants.
“We have proposals to tackle climate change, as it is an issue that affects the entire world. We have the hope of saving the planet through the demarcation of Indigenous Lands and the protection of forests and for that, of course, it is necessary to revoke all of Bolsonaro’s ordinances and decrees that facilitate invasions”, he explained.
On the first day of his third term, Lula signed a series of decrees and measures that resume socio-environmental public policies. know more
long standing resistance
At 42 years old, Edinho is younger than the organization itself and claims to be the son of the policies made by the CIR, such as “Go or crack” and “A cow for the Indian”. (understand these policies below)
“I am not the age of the organization, but I feel there is a deep root that no one can ever pull out. I feel that it is a tree that grows to provide shade for other populations and generations ahead of us, ”she described.
According to him, there are other “battlefields” where the indigenous movement in Roraima can contribute. “Indigenous peoples have a historic contribution, which can be used to help rebuild the country after these four years in the dark with policies that tried to exterminate us, the indigenous people,” he declared.
Edinho classified it as a “challenge” to live under the policies of the Bolsonaro government and stated that the threats served as “an injection, an impetus to combat the genocidal policy”.
The period from 2019 to 2022 also worried Jacir de Souza, Macuxi tuxaua who coordinated the CIR between 2001 and 2005. . For the last four years, he has feared for the people of other lands.
“Even before Bolsonaro entered the campaign, he was already saying that if he won, he would not demarcate any Indigenous Land. And with it, people felt free to mine illegally. Those four years did not bring anything good for the indigenous peoples, only invasions, as happened with the Yanomami Land with more than 30 miners. Here, in Raposa Serra do Sol, as we were already doing the work to prevent entry, we managed to avoid invasions”, he explained.
With the end of the Bolsonaro government, the creation of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and the appointment of Joenia Wapichana as president of the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai), Jacir hopes that other lands will be demarcated and realizes that he has “indigenous people working for indigenous people within the government ”.
The insecurity of living in a land without demarcation was also recalled by Desmano de Souza, a Macuxi leader who was vice-coordinator of the CIR from 1997 to 2000. The son of Brazilian indigenous people, he was born in British Guiana (today Guiana). But, at age 14, his father returned to Roraima after suffering political persecution in the neighboring country. He describes how he fled a war and, when he arrived in Raposa Serra do Sol, in 1969, he was faced with a new scenario of war between farmers and their indigenous relatives.
“In 1969 the situation was not as aggressive as it had become from 1987 onwards. I remember that when I arrived, the farmers no longer let us do our retreats or be their neighbors. When the farmers' fight against my people heated up, I was already an adult and I participated even with some of my brothers telling me not to get involved”, he recalled.
“Come, leadership, come celebrate”
During breaks in the speeches given by CIR leaders, it was possible to visit tents with handicrafts for sale, buy food produced by the indigenous people and refresh yourself in Lake Caracaranã. However, the presentations of authorial forró songs dominated the attention of those present at the party. The indigenous people danced and sang about pride in their own culture, peace and with messages of indigenous militancy.
“I saw the young people dancing and I thought: 'What would it be like here, on Lake Caracaranã, if the demarcation had not been done?'. How we won, enjoy it young people, dance and play,” Desmano said during his speech.
“The ordinance has already been signed / Renan Calheiros is the one who signed it / It is the victory of the indigenous people (…)/ Come, leadership, come celebrate”, sang the indigenous people a part of one of the songs, which talks about the demarcation of Raposa Serra do Sol in 1998.
At the time, Renan Calheiros was Minister of Justice and signed the document declaring the land as permanent possession of the indigenous peoples. The measure turned into a long legal battle with the government of Roraima and the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which only reached a decision in 2009, five years after Lula signed the ratification.
“Go or crack” and “A cow for the Indian”
Leaders of indigenous communities around the CIR began to hold large annual meetings for decision-making from 1971, the year of the first Assembly of Tuxauas, which took place in the community of Barro, in the Surumú region. Six years later, in 1977, the historic “Vai ou Racha” assembly takes place.
In it, the leaders decided to abolish alcoholic beverages in the communities and strengthen the defense of their lands. The decision came after years of conflicts over the territory of Raposa Serra do Sol, which every day became more violent and bloody.
Many indigenous people were expelled from their own homes or were murdered trying to defend their right to remain on the land. Abolishing alcohol was crucial to keeping the indigenous people sober and preventing invaders from manipulating them.
In 1980, the project “A cow for the Indian” reached the communities to encourage community cattle raising. The model, which proposes a rotation of animals in the communities, worked so well that it continues to this day.
According to the general secretary of the CIR women's movement, Maria Betania Mota de Jesus, community cattle raising is the main project in terms of sustainability, and is even being replicated by indigenous peoples from other states.
“People say that 'there's a lot of land for not enough Indians', but there isn't, the truth is that there's a lot of indigenous people for little land. We are going to talk more and more about how indigenous peoples need to be heard,” he said.
“This year 2023 has already brought many changes. Our leaders are strategic and that is why there are many organizations from other states that have the CIR as a reference”, he said, referring to the change of government and the performance of the CIR.
One of the leaders of women from the Macuxi people, Maria Betania said that the last four years have been a challenge, but pointed out that the mandate of Joenia Wapichana (Rede) as federal deputy was essential and strategic to protect indigenous men and women.
“Thank God, there was an indigenous woman to represent us in these four years of Bolsonaro's government. With great strength and ability, she knew how to create strategies and bring people to our side. It wasn't easy for Bolsonaro, because she made a difference there and was a reference for all women in Brazil. Joenia Wapichana showed how the indigenous people are united”, praised Maria Betania.
With Lula as president of Brazil, she says that it is not “the time for indigenous people to sit idly by”, but for them to be able to participate and closely monitor the decision-making that involves them in the coming years.
The CIR anniversary counted with the people of Raposa, Surumú, Baixo Cotingo, Serras, Amajari, Murupú, Tabaio, Wai Wai, Alto Cauamé, Serra da Lua and Yanomami. In addition, Council partners were present during the celebration.
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