·        WSF2009: Indigenous Peoples intend to create common agenda to fight in defense of the environment

·        Indigenous Delegation discusses WSF themes on the waters of the Amazon River

 

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WSF2009: Indigenous Peoples intend to create common agenda to fight in defense of the environment

 

From January 27 to February 1, nearly 3 thousand indigenous persons from around the world will be in Belém, Pará, to participate in the ninth edition of the World Social Forum (FSM). The indigenous peoples hope to come away from the event with a firm common agenda of intercontinental struggle to face the environmental crisis and to intensify the international articulation and mobilization of indigenous peoples.

 

According to the Indigenous Commission of the WSF, the indigenous presence in this Forum will be the largest of all the editions, which shows the advance of the articulation of the peoples. There will be at least 1,500 indigenous in Belém from scores of peoples of Brazil and more than 500 indigenous of peoples from Latin America and from other continents. By comparison, in 2005, the last WSF held in Brazil, in Porto Alegre, approximately 500 indigenous participated, nearly all Brazilian.

 

The activities of the indigenous peoples will be concentrated at the Federal Rural University of Pará (UFRA), in the Indigenous Peoples Tent, but debates are also anticipated with indigenous participation in other spaces, like the tent of the Peoples of the Forest, of Human Rights and the Social Cartography tent. Questions such as the production of foods and agricultural policies will also be discussed, in articulation with Via Campesina.

 

In the Tent of the Indigenous Peoples, there will be panel discussions, assemblies, cultural activities, campaign launches, etc. On Jan. 27, the activities commence with the Assembly of Organizations and Indigenous Peoples. The Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organizations (CAOI) and the Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), in which the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB) participates, are the principal articulators for the Indigenous Peoples in the WSF. These and other indigenous organizations from the entire world are expected to contribute with the construction of a new world paradigm, drawn from indigenous values and experiences, especially in Latin America.

 

According to Roberto Spinoza, of the COICA, a member of the Indigenous Commission of the WSF, the objective is to leave with an agenda for the struggles of 2009. “We have already been experiencing a strong moment for indigenous mobilization since day 12 of October. Also we are already working on the realization of the Social Forum Theme for 2010, which has as its major axis Civilizational Crisis, Decolonization, Environmental Cataclysm and Collective Rights”.

 

Indians arrive by land, river and air

Many indigenous participants in the WSF are already on their way to Belém. One ship with 150 indigenous representatives from Amazonas and Roraima departed yesterday, Jan 21, from Manaus for the WSF. While they navigate the largest river in the world the indigenous are debating themes like the guarantee of the indigenous territories, the impacts of the massive projects in Amazônia and environmental preservation in the context of climate change.

 

On day 20 of January, a bus departed from Rio Grande do Sul heading for Belém. About 50 Guarani (from the southern states and from Mato Grosso do Sul) compose the delegation, which, on the way to the FSM, will stop at the land of the Apinajé, in Tocantins, for cultural exchange and articulations between the peoples.

 

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Indigenous Delegation discusses WSF themes on the waters of the Amazon River

 

Ticuna, Kambeba, Canamari, Caixina, Yanomami, Macuxi, Mura, Wapichana, Sateré Maué, Tapuia, Baré, Yekuana, Maya and various other indigenous peoples who are part of the delegation that will participate in the 2009 WSF, discuss themes of the Forum on board the ship Rocha Neto.

 

After day one of the voyage the delegation made a brief stop in the port of the city of Parintins (AM) on the afternoon of day 21/01. The public demonstration planned was cancelled due to a heavy rain that fell just at the moment of arrival. Despite the rain, the indigenous leaders were not discouraged and characterized by their paint and traditional vestments, danced and sang through the rain shower under awnings on the ship taking them to Belém (PA).

 

The indigenous leaders and the coordination of the delegation took advantage of the moment for contact with the press, expressing their expectations relative to the WSF and approaching such issues of interest to the indigenous movement as: the guarantee of the indigenous territories, impacts from the massive projects in Amazônia, environmental preservation in the context of climate change and global warming, Latin-American indigenous problematics, indigenous proactivism, now affirmed with the election of 4 (four) mayors and numerous councilmen in the states of Amazônas and Roraima, the challenges of their own health and education, as well as the contribution of indigenous “good living” to the well being of humanity and the planet.

 

At night the discussions returned to specific issues of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin. The leaders were presented with information about the Campaign “Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon: Present and Future of Humanity”, followed by a debate about the problems of the communities.

 

For indigenous leaders the campaign that will be launched at the WSF will give visibility to the struggle of the peoples who resist the projects imposed by the dominant society. They further affirm that the indigenous peoples are the primary guardians of the forest, for this they would like the guarantee of demarcation of their territories, to assure the continuity of their peoples., of Amazonia and of humanity.

 

Today, Thursday Jan 22, the delegation ship made a stop in the municipality of Santarém (PA) for a public demonstration in favor of the indigenous peoples.

 

Brasília, 22nd of january 2009

Cimi – Indianist Missionary Council

www.cimi.org.br