About 35 indigenous leaders attended the Seminar for National Articulation: Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands, Social Policies and Social Control, which ends today (March 20), in Brasília. The event was organized by the National Articulation of Indigenous Peoples (APIB) with the aim of defining paths for a national policy for managing indigenous territories, analyzing existing social policies and defining strategies to qualify indigenous peoples’ participation and social control.

 

“We are strategically gathered to discuss the paths of the indigenous movement in Brazil. We took advantage of this opportunity to articulate the claims that we will take to the Free Land Camp [in April], among them the discussion concerning the Statute of Indigenous Peoples which has been stalled for over 13 years. We are willing to face this struggle, instead of just holding debates on specific projects which aim to restrict indigenous rights, such as a bill on mining activities inside indigenous lands being discussed at the Chamber of Representatives,” said Sandro Tuxá, from the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples from the Northeast region, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo (Apoinme).

 

The participation of the Brazilian indigenous movement, through committees, councils and other governmental mechanisms, in drawing up, supporting and evaluating distinct policies and actions for indigenous peoples has been relevant in recent years. The establishment of the National Commission for the Indigenous Policy (CNPI), resulting from claims made in the 2007 Free Land Camp, should be highlighted.

 

However, in many cases, for instance in the construction of hydroelectric power plants such as the one being built in the city of Estreito and the one related to the São Francisco river transposition project, indigenous peoples who are affected by these projects have not been consulted beforehand by the government– as determined in ILO’s Convention 169 and in the UN Statement on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights. In this connection, the actions of the indigenous movement should be evaluated, redefined and permanently qualified. “We will submit our claims to the government and we want to make progress in creating discussion and consultation spaces, where indigenous peoples are actually seen as participants,” Sandro concluded.

 

Brasília, March 20, 2008.

Cimi – Indianist Missionary Council

www.cimi.org.br