"Cultural Diversity and patrimony is no problem." Stated Minister of Culture, Juca Ferreira, on Friday morning, February 5. He shortly stopped at the indigenous village Tekoha Añetete, in the municipality of Diamante D’Oeste, in the southern state of Parana, at the Meeting of the Guarani Peoples of South America (Aty Guasu Ñande Reko Resakã Yvy Rupa).

 

Juca spoke about the formation of the Brazilian people who received various influences and assimilated the characteristics of various peoples such as the Portuguese, African, Indian, Korean, and Lebanese, among others. "The differences exist and the Brazilian people is the result of assimilation of the characteristics of all these peoples. The role of the Ministry of Culture is to promote the protagonism of these peoples”, he noted.

 

Discrimination peenalized

Juca Ferreira danced with indigenous groups that arose and was very touched to receive, along with the Minister of Paraguay, Titius Escobar, from the indigenous leaders from Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina, the final document prepared by the Guarani themselves and the result of two days of debates conducted among the 800 indigenous representatives in the event. One of the points in the document requires the guarantee, of the four governments, of penalization for discrimination, prejudice and violence against the Guarani people.

 

Among the main decisions made by the Guarani in the Meeting, which began on February 03 and ends today, is the creation of the Permanent Commission of Coordination of the Guarani People of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia, instituted during the event. This Commission will participate, directly, in the process of realization of the Special Guarani Secretariat under the Mercosul Cultural, which will address the implementation of the rights and interests of the Guarani people.

 

Besides the creation of the Special Guarani Secretariat, with 20 indigenous representatives, 6 from Brazil, 6 of Paraguay, and 4 from Argentina and Bolivia, in the final document, the Guarani further call for the creation of a permanent forum for discussion in defense of Guarani rights in the Mercosul Cultural; and the realization of activities that promote cultural exchange between the various Guarani communities in South America.

 

The Guarani also want the guarantee, and respect of free cultural transit, in accord with the traditions of the indigenous peoples, on the borders between Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia; This would need changes in border laws. They also revindicate a proper security infrastructure, and call for governmental and private support to conduct seminars and meetings of the Guarani in the four countries of South America, especially for the participation of delegations of the Guarani in the Meeting on Climate Change to be held in Bolivia in April 2010.

 

In addition to the Ministers of Culture of Brazil and Paraguay, who were received by the Guarani with the Joroky dance of welcome, present at the ceremonial table for presentation of the document were, Américo Córdula, Secretary of Identity and Cultural Diversity of the Ministry of Culture; Nelton Friedrich, Director of Coordination of Itaipu Binacional; Angel Vea, representative of the Paraguayan government for Indigenous Affairs, Vera Mussi Augusto, Secretary of Culture of Paraná, Arilza Nazareth de Almeida, director of the Museu do Indio, representing the FUNAI, José Carlos Abreu, Coordination of Indian Affairs of the Government of Paraná, and Lida Acuña, director of the Indigenous Institute of Paraguay (INDI).

Representing the indigenous peoples, were leaders Mario Tupã, host of the meeting and cacique of the Village Tekoha Añetete, Pedro Mancoelho, of Paraguay, Silvino Moreira Kavai Mirim, of Argentina, and Saturnino Cueler Kavarai, of Bolivia.

 

(Heli-Espíndola Communication / SID)