HISTORY
The Indigenous Law Operators Program was created in 2001, as an activity of the Legal Department of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), at the time coordinated by Lawyer Joenia Wapichana with the objective of helping indigenous communities to denounce violations of their rights. In 2018, the coordination of the Program was taken over by Indigenous lawyer Junior Nicacio Farias Wapichana, together with lawyer Ivo Cípio Macuxi.
Over the years, several workshops, courses and eleven state meetings were held, in which leaders met to discuss, study and propose actions to strengthen the rights of indigenous peoples. It was from these meetings that the formation of the Environmental Territorial Agents (ATAI) and the formation of the group for territorial protection and indigenous territorial surveillance (GPVITI) were born.
AREA OF EXPERTISE
The Program serves all CIR base regions, Serra da Lua, Alto Cauamé, Tabaio, Wai Wai, Amajari, Murupú, Surumu, Serras, Baixo Cotingo and Raposa, of the 35 indigenous lands, with 10 leaders per region. Each region elects a leader, responsible for regional coordination. Currently, the program has 40 operators, 20 of whom are scholarship holders, including tuxauas, women, coordinators and young people, who play important roles in their communities or regions.
AIM AND PURPOSE
The objective of the Rights Operators program is to strengthen the social organization of communities through training and studies on various topics, especially those declared and guaranteed by the Federal Constitution of 1988 and Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO). In addition, it aims to train leaders in the defense of rights and in the preparation of complaints.
It is essential that leaders understand the functioning of the organization of the Brazilian State, through the three branches – Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary. In addition, it is essential to strengthen indigenous legal systems through territorial governance instruments, such as Internal Regulations and Consultation Protocols.
Over the years, more than 200 leaders have been trained in various areas of law, including human rights, environmental, constitutional, international, and indigenous rights.
AWARDS
In 2024, the program was awarded by the Innovare Institute as one of the innovative initiatives of the Brazilian Justice. The award was received by lawyer Júnior Nicácio Wapichana and lawyer Fernanda Félix Wapichana, in the White Room of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
MAIN RESULTS
- 200 leaders trained, including young people, women, counselors and elders, who are working in the territories;
- Network of indigenous operators in Law active in the communities, being recognized by the indigenous movement and indigenous organizations in the State;
- Leaders working at the Indigenous Center for Mediation and Conciliation of Maturuca, TI Raposa Serra do Sol;
- Leaders working on the construction of community Internal Regulations, strengthening the indigenous legal system;
- Preparation of the Consultation Protocol of the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land and the indigenous peoples of the Serra da Lua Region;
- Leaders prepared to assume public office, as was the case of Mrs. Marizete de Souza who took over the regional coordination of Funai in Roraima and Mr. Mario Nicacio who was deputy mayor of the Municipality of Bonfim/Roraima;
- Agility in forwarding complaints to the competent bodies;
- Resolution of internal conflicts made by the leaders through the Internal Regulations;