The defense of rivers and the right to decide on enterprises that impact indigenous lands were some of the principle questions discussed by the indigenous peoples during the first days of the World Social Forum (WSF), taking place in Belém, Pará, between January 27 and the first of February.

 

The presence of more than 1200 indigenous people of Brazil and of Latin America in the WSF is one of the most significant aspects of the event. Wherever they go, the indigenous draw attention and other participants of the encounter make way and press to film and take photographs. Even to residents of Belém, the presence of the Indigenous of Pará are more surprising than the presence of foreigners from different countries.

 

In the mean time, in addition to being seen and recognized, the indigenous peoples urge other groups and social movements present to unite with them in the struggle for the common good. As they reminded other indigenous leaders at the opening of the event, the defense of indigenous lands is in the interest of everyone, given their importance for environmental preservation, necessary for the survival of the planet. Within this context, the indigenous Brazilians are taking various actions to articulate the defense of Brazilian rivers threatened by large enterprises.

 

On January 28, indigenous peoples and river residents who live beside threatened rivers met on the banks of the Guamá river to talk about the threats to the São Francisco river (a transposition project), the Madeira river (hydroelectric project of Jirau), the Xingu (Belo Monte hydroelectric plant), the Tocantin river (Estreito hydroelectric), among others.

 

The respected Toinho Pescador, from Alagoa, recalled the time when he was able to sustain his family by fishing in the currents of the ‘Velho Chico’. If the transposition of the waters of this river is completed, Toinho and the river residents of the region will no longer be able to draw sustenance from the river.

 

José Carlos Arara, of the Xingu river, emphasized that “there are ways of achieving development without destroying the environment, leaving families without anywhere to draw water and food to give continuity to their own survival”. The consensus of the people in the meeting is that a project of destruction is not necessary as a function of development. “It is not the duty of just the indians to fight for the cause of the rivers, but of all inhabitants of the Earth”, warned Natanael Karajá. Following the meeting, the indigenous, the river residents and other participants conducted a ceremony in the Guamá river to seek the spiritual force of the waters.

 

On January 29, another debate emphasized the problems that could be caused by the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant. Dom Erwin, bishop of the Xingu and president of CIMI, emphasized that the majority of the population in the region is opposed to the enterprise and that consultation on the project is being limited to merchants and entrepreneurs of Altamira.

 

The defense of the land and of the rivers is also the campaign focus of Indigenous Peoples in Amazônia: Present and Future of Humanity, which was launched on January 28 in the WSF. The initiative intends to sensitize society to the importance of protecting the indigenous peoples of Amazônia, cornered by increasing aggression on the environment caused, primarily, by loggers, miners, livestock ranchers and by the advance of the agricultural frontier (monoculture of soy, sugar cane, etc).

 

Until February 1, the Indigenous Peoples will further participate in various debates and demonstrations, seeking to fully utilize this rare opportunity where the focus of attention is being given to their presentation of the issues. As emphasized by Miguel Palacin, of the Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organizations (CAOI), after the opening presentation of the event: “For a better world, the violence, the criminalization, the racism and all aggressions suffered by the indigenous peoples must end, for this to happen, Plurinational States need to be constructed, as already occur in Bolivia and in Ecuador.”