Newsletter No. 776: Tupinikim and Guarani peoples repossess part of their lands in Espírito Santo
Newsletter No. 776
– Tupinikim and Guarani peoples repossess part of their lands in Espírito Santo
– First indigenous Brazilian doctor graduates in Cuba
TUPINIKIM AND GUARANI PEOPLES REPOSSESS PART OF THEIR LANDS IN ESPÍRITO SANTO
On 24 July, the Tupinikim and Guarani who live in Espírito Santo started to repossess part of their territory. Plantations belonging to the multinational company Aracruz Celulose have invaded around 11,000 hectares of the territory identified as indigenous land by the National Foundation for Indigenous People (Funai). Demarcation of the peoples’ land now depends on a decision from the Minister of Justice, Tarso Genro.
Since the beginning of July, the National Foundation for Indigenous People’s report recommending demarcation of the land has once again been at the Ministry of Justice. Genro must now issue a Government Order declaring the area indigenous so that the physical boundary markers can be put in place. It is hoped that this Minister of Justice does not act like his predecessor. The former Minister Márcio Thomaz Bastos’ last act concerning this case was in March 2007, when he sent the process back to Funai, asking the Foundation to try and reconcile “the interests of the parties”.
Whilst they are waiting for Genro’s decision, the Tupinikim and the Guarani have once again occupied their lands. Around 250 people are rebuilding the Olho D´água settlement, which was destroyed in 2006, after a major police operation expelled the indigenous people. “We have waited a long time for demarcation and have still not even been granted an audience with this Minister”, said the chief, Toninho Tupinikim.
When the houses have been built, some Guarani families will move into the area. Then, they will rebuild the Macacos and Areal settlements. The indigenous people are also expelling the invaders that are stealing eucalyptus from the land. For this reason, they have closed some of the highways in the region.
With the suspension of the tree felling and expulsion of non-indigenous people, the indigenous people intend to preserve the eucalyptus plantations and use them as payment for the compensation due to Aracruz Celulose for any improvements made in the 11,000 hectares. This is explained in the document issued by the Tupinikim and Guarani Chiefs and Leaders Committee.
As yet, the indigenous people have not yet received a court order to leave the area, but a climate of tension is ever-present. “If the Minister comes to a decision on the process soon, the conflicts in the region will diminish”, the chief Toninho believes.
Maria da Glória Oliveira da Silva, of the Pataxó Hã-Hã-Hãe people, has just graduated in medicine. She is the first indigenous person born in Brazil to complete this course in Cuba, and guarantees that she wants to come back and live amongst her people, in the South of Bahia. “My commitment was to return and work in the community”, she said in a telephone interview.
Glória began the course in 2001 and intends to specialize, in Brazil, in gynecology and obstetrics or in pediatrics. When she arrives in Brazil, she will still have to face the challenge of having her diploma validated.
She says that one of the most important things that she learnt during her stay in Cuba was how to face up to difficulties “In spite of all the difficulties, which affect not only us students, but all the Cuban people, we learnt to be aware of what we have and what we don’t have, and to improvise whenever necessary. Even with the difficult situation that they live in, the people here are always willing to help, they behave in a humanitarian way.”
This scholarship for students linked to social movements is offered by the Cuban embassy in Brazil, and includes the students’ course fees, food and accommodation costs. Cimi has supported the training of indigenous people by facilitating the contact between the indigenous movement, the communities and the Cuban embassy. This year, at least 8 indigenous people will go and study in Cuba.
Cimi – Indianist Missionary Council
Brasília, 26 July 2007
