The indigenous land Vale do Javari, on the border with Peru suffers extreme environmental degradation. Another threat to the survival of the indigenous people is the failing health care. These issue were discussed by leaders of the Matsé, Kanamary, Marubo and Matis, participating in a seminar of the Funai. mid-June.

 

The indigenous land Vale do Javari, on the border with Peru, has been experiencing extremely high rates of environmental degradation due to illegal activities of hunters, fishermen and both Peruvian and Brazilian loggers. The presence of invaders is due to the lack of supervision and territorial protection on the border with Peru and in border areas with municipalities.

One example is the Javari river itself. Freely accessed by many, there is no respect for the demarcation limits. This puts the lives of the Matsés and Kanamary at risk and the entire area is considered a “vulnerable and an at-risk situation”. The process is changing the traditional ways and survival modes of the indigenous families.

 

Economic Policies

Of great concern are the economic policies of countries engaged in activity of large multinational enterprises. Allotment is occurring in the Peruvian territory on the banks of the Javari river for lumber, petroleum and other resource exploitation of both soil and subsoil. The activity includes European, North American, Asiatic, Canadian, Japanese and Brazilian (Petrobras) interests.

 

Environmental stewardship histories warrant concern over future generation of intense degradation and subsequent problems. Of immediate attention is pollution of rivers and destruction of forests on the borders.

 

Technical support needed

Technical support for projects fully respecting the prior and informed consultation of the indigenous peoples will be key to identifying modes of capacitation and orientation leading to elaboration of indigenous projects centered in socio-environmental sustainability. There has been no support for economic alternatives for income generation for the indigenous peoples. They have managed to sustain traditional existence despite influences from former exploitation of rubber latex and gum.

 

A generation of youth has been raised in an area rich in natural resources. They engage the changes, aware that they and their elders are excluded from participating in State and Municipal discussions regarding alternative development. The presence of elders who hold positions of Indigenous Health Agents, Teachers and Interns can provide guidance, but the strategic development of balanced opportunities is crucial.

 

Education

School education in Vale do Javari has become one of the points for mobilization. The Ministry of Education and other institutions were cited as failing to offer a quality education. Students are prejudiced in the classroom by lack of appropriate materials and the teachers are without continuing education courses. Without these resources the educational objectives cannot be met.

 

Question of Health

One of the most difficult situations is continuing fragility due to epidemics of hepatitis A, B, C, and D and malaria. Under these conditions the transmission of hepatitis, spread of malaria, tuberculosis and filariasis continue to cause deaths among the indigenous peoples.

The fragility has broken entire families and divided communities. Palliative measures have been decidedly insufficient to improve the health and well being of the indigenous peoples.

 

There has been no structural response to the lack of transport, communication, Base Clinic structures, prevention activities, medicine and capacitation of Indigenous Health Agents. The situation is critical.

 

Mobilization

The seminar highlighted organizational potential and autonomy of these peoples, subsistence practices, culture, economy and attending to the needs and demands of each community. Proposals for alternatives to strengthen sustainable development and income generation were also covered.

 

Within these considerations is the future of orphaned children and youths in need of sustained support in education, health, and food security.

 

Faced with exposure, the indigenous peoples of Vale do Javari are mobilizing community organizations and the Union of the Peoples of Vale do Javari (Univaja) with the intent to improve the situation in their communities.

 

Partners who conducted the Seminar have committed to projects including mapping of sub-regions and within these the identification of the problematics of education, health, protection of the territory and productive projects.

 

This work marks a new phase in the relationship of the peoples with Funai, Funasa, Organs of territorial control, and the National State in general to obtain a response to the needs and requests of the indigenous peoples of Vale do Javari.

 

 

Facts on the Vale do Javari

 

Located on the Brazilian border with Peru, the Terra Indígena Vale do Javari  was demarcated and confirmed through Presidential Decree on May 2, 2001. It is the second largest in the country with an area of more than 8.5 million hectares and a 2,068 km perimeter.

 

Vale do Javari embraces territories of the Kanamary, Kulina Pano, Marúbo, Matis, Matsés, Korubo, Tsohom Djapá people, as well as various autonomous indigenous peoples, who chose to live in isolation.

 

The population is 3,575 persons according to the 2008 census conducted by the Fundação Nacional de Saude (Funasa –National Foundation of Health). The demographics did not include the autonomous peoples.

 

The seminar united leaders of the Matsé, Kanamary, Marubo and Matis. Called Health and Territorial Management and Sustainable Improvement of Vale do Javari, from June 11 thru 14, the seminar was held in the auditorium of the regional FUNAI offices.

 

The seminar was conducted with the participation of representatives of the FEPI, Funai, UFAM, CTI, Cimi, Frente de Proteção Etno-Ambiental, Brazilian Army –8^th BIS, União dos Povos Indigenas do Vale do Javari – UNIVAJA, and their regional associations: AMAS, ASDEC, AKAVAJA, AIMASS, AIMA and community leaders.