The historic moment took place in the traditional Homologation shed, in Maturuca, T.I. Raposa Serra do Sol.
The documents released by the Legal Department and the Department of Territorial, Environmental and Climate Change Management of the CIR are the result of the struggles of leaders who are no longer alive. In the pages, a legacy built together, reflecting the past, present and future for the good living of the indigenous peoples of Roraima.
The act symbolized respect, unity, listening and, above all, the pioneering spirit of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), an organization that has been working for 55 years in defense of the life, territories and rights of indigenous peoples in the state.
The translation of Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) began in September 2025. Throughout the process, the document was translated and revised by Macuxi language teachers Albertino de Souza, Belinda de Souza and Lavínia Pereira Xavier, from the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, and by Wapichana mother tongue teachers Benedita André da Silva, Suzete Cassimiro Manduca and Joice Alberto de Souza, from the Serra da Lua region.
"This moment is important for us. It goes down in history as another achievement of the indigenous peoples of Roraima. It was more than seven months dedicated to the translation of the material that will facilitate the understanding of what ILO 169 says for those who speak the Wapichana and Macuxi languages", said Joice Wapichana.
The professors, together with the indigenous lawyers of the CIR, Fernanda Félix, Luciane Macuxi and Junior Nicacio, united traditional knowledge with legal knowledge.
The Macuxi and Wapichana peoples are the most populous in Roraima, and the translation of the Convention will make it possible to understand, in a clear and accessible way, the rights and duties guaranteed by the international instrument, especially with regard to the right to prior, free and informed consultation, as well as the self-determination of indigenous peoples. The document represents an achievement in the struggle to guarantee the rights of the indigenous peoples of Roraima.
"The right to consultation is much talked about and little practiced. We, indigenous peoples, know its importance, and this material comes to facilitate understanding and, above all, to rescue and value the Macuxi and Wapichana mother tongues", explained Junior Nicácio, legal advisor of the CIR.
The translation of Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) into the Macuxi and Wapichana languages is the fifth to be released in Brazil. The document has already been translated into the Guarani Kaiowá, Kayapó, Terena and Ticuna languages.
"I want to congratulate the history and work of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), which is a great defender of the rights of indigenous peoples. It is essential that the holders of rights, which are indigenous peoples and traditional communities, take ownership of the text that guarantees these rights. The translation of ILO Convention 169 into the Macuxi and Wapichana languages comes precisely to strengthen this access", explained Raoní Vale, head of the ILO's project office for the Amazon.
Consultation Protocol
Another document launched at the event was the Consultation Protocol of the Amajari region. The document, built by the residents of the region with the assistance of the Legal Department of the CIR, reaffirms the right of leaders to decide on everything that affects the territory, culture and way of life.
The protocol has forty-seven pages and brings the timeline of the region's struggles, the rules on which issues should be consulted, who should be consulted, the steps for carrying out the consultation, the laws that support this right and other information that govern the document, strengthening the social organization of the region.
"This document is very important, it has our rules and was made with the participation of everyone. I bring the memory and dedication to our leadership Gabriel Ferreira, who collaborated from the beginning with the preparation of this document", recalled Sebastião Guilherme, regional coordinator of Amajari.
The Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) has three consultation protocols: the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, the Serra da Lua region and the Amajari region.
"Throughout these fifty-five years, the Indigenous Council of Roraima has acted in the defense and protection of human rights, through its departments, especially the legal advisory, which together with the tuxauas and leaders has produced documents with claims, complaints and requests for the protection of territorial rights", said Junior Nicácio, legal advisor to the CIR.
Territorial and Environmental Management Plan (PGTA)
In all, 13 Territorial and Environmental Management Plans for indigenous lands were launched, collectively built by indigenous leaders with technical advice from the Department of Environmental Territorial Management and Climate Change (DGTAMC) team. The document brings the way of life of the peoples and their plans and actions aimed at territorial and environmental management and the appreciation of culture.
The construction of these, in particular, was carried out in record time, taking only 10 days. Each step was important for the process, and the wishes of the leaders were recorded in detail, as in the case of the Serra da Lua region, which prioritized autonomy and territorial governance.
"This moment is very important for us in the Serra da Lua region. It marks the achievement of the communities. At the PGTA we prioritize our autonomy and territorial governance. The document strengthens us as a region", reinforced César Silva, regional coordinator of Serra da Lua.
The PGTA, in addition to strengthening the autonomy and management of the territory, helps communities to face climate change and external pressures, ensuring territorial protection and the maintenance of the traditional ways of the indigenous peoples of Roraima.
"We had four PGTAs built in 10 days. This is a new methodology that the Indigenous Council of Roraima has developed. We are innovating together with the leaders, and these are the results. Today we are returning to the leaders the document with all the priorities that are already being implemented", said Sinéia.
The Territorial and Environmental Management Plans launched in the Serra da Lua region were from the Canauanim, Tabalascada, Malacacheta, Jabuti, Moscow, Bom Jesus and Muriru Indigenous Lands, in addition to the Sucuba, Truaru, São Marcos, Amajari, Tabaio and Raimundão Indigenous Lands.
"This launch is very important for us, indigenous peoples. A document created by the communities themselves, with the help of the CIR technical team, which demonstrates the autonomy of the communities that brought their specificities", expressed Kelliane Wapichana, General Tuxaua of the Indigenous Women's Movement of Roraima.
The book "Transformations of Time and Climate Policies of Indigenous Peoples", written by Sinéia do Vale, was also launched. The moment was marked by a lot of emotion, with dedications to Genisvam André and Gabriel Ferreira.
The work reinforces the importance of the indigenous experience, with concrete examples and practical instruments that demonstrate the methodological force that is born on the ground of the territories in Roraima. The book brings the legacy of those who dedicated more than 30 tireless years to the defense of rights, environmental protection and preservation, the fight against climate change and the strengthening of the autonomy and good living of indigenous communities.
The launches were attended by more than 1,500 participants of the 55th General Assembly of Indigenous Peoples.