CIMI LAUNCHES DEBATE AND MATERIALS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ WEEK

 

The Indigenous Peoples’ Week, which is celebrated every year by the Indianist Missionary Council (Cimi) in April, will focus this year on the topic “Peace, Solidarity and Reciprocity in Relations.”

 

The topic chosen for this year’s Week is in tune with the topic proposed by the Fraternity Campaign of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, “Solidarity and Peace — happy are those who promote peace.”

 

The proposed topic invites all the Brazilian society to reflect on the current reality and on the need to reconsider our lifestyles and nurture values such as solidarity and reciprocity in the relations between individuals, families, communities, and peoples.

 

In the material prepared for the Week, Cimi says that peace “can only become a reality if fellow creatures, the ethnic diversity, and life are respected and promoted. May every person enjoy life fully.”

 

The topic will be discussed by the indigenous movement, social movements, students, scholars and supporters of the indigenous cause in general in meetings, lectures and debates organized by Cimi in different locations in Brazil, particularly between April 17 and 23.  Besides these activities, Cimi is also producing posters and educational materials to be used as benchmarks for discussing the raised issues in detail. These materials can be found in the regional offices of the entity or in the Cimi website (www.cimi.org.br)

 

INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT OF RORAIMA HOLDS ITS 34TH ASSEMBLY

 

The organization of indigenous peoples of Roraima is a benchmark for all the indigenous peoples of Brazil. Strengthened from its base in a process of increasing connections between the villages and the surrounding society, the Indigenous Council of Roraima – CIR – is organizing its 34th Annual Assembly based on the topic “Makunaima: alive until the last indigenous person is alive” which will be held in the Maturuca community in the Raposa/Serra do Sol indigenous land on February 12-15.

 

The topic of the event draws attention to the importance of Makunaima, a mythic hero for all the indigenous peoples of the region of Roraima, and his relation with mother Earth, which is fundamental for preserving the life of indigenous people and their culture and tradition. Attended by indigenous chiefs, teachers, regional council members, shamans, health agents and guests, this year’s assembly will gather over 1,000 community leaders coordinated by CIR.

 

Invitations were sent to the Ministries of Environment, Education, Health, Land Reform, Culture, Fisheries, Human Rights, Justice and Defense, which are expected to appoint representatives to attend it. Union leaders and leaders of popular and religious movements have confirmed their presence already. The debates to be held during the Assembly will focus on the demarcation of land areas and on topics related to the environment, health care, education and sustainable development.

 

Six indigenous groups from communities located in the Raposa/Serra do Sol land will be launching a Cd called “Caxiri na Cuia – o Forró da Maloca” in partnerhsip with the Tobagulê Workshop with songs describing the indigenous lifestyle in their villages and the struggle to ensure the official confirmation of the bounds of that area, which is regarded as the most controversial one in Brazil.

 

The 34th Assembly of Indigenous Peoples of Roraima will be closed with the swearing into office of the general coordinator and vice-coordinator of CIR and of the secretary of the Women’s Movement. The Macuxi Marinaldo Justino Trajano, Dionito José de Souza and Jairo Pereira da Silva and the Wai Wai Valdeci Noro are candidates for the post of coordinator. Lavina Salomão, Dalva Gregório and Luciana Pinto, all of whom are Macuxi, are the candidates for the position of secretary of the Women’s Movement.

 

All people aged 16 and over have been voting for their candidates for these positions since early in January in all the communities coordinated by CIR. The candidate with the highest number of votes will be elected coordinator, and the second most voted one will be assigned to the position of vice-coordinator. The most voted woman will be appointed secretary of the Women’s Movement.

 

The current coordinator of CIR, Jacir José de Souza, and its vice-coordinator, Noberto Cruz, are leaving their posts after holding them for four years. They were sworn in together in 2001 and were reelected in 2003.

 

Brasília, 10 February 2005.

 

Indianist Missionary Council