From May 12 to 15, the Lago Caracaranã regional center, in the Raposa region, hosted the VII State Youth Assembly of Roraima. There were days of discussions, debates between young and traditional leaders. In addition to having chosen the new coordination of the Youth Center of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) for a two-year term. In which the young Wapichana, Raquel Viana and Messias Pereira, from the Macuxi people, were elected as vice-coordinator.
The assembly had as its theme "Indigenous youth in the struggle for indigenous rights and territorial sovereignty". The event had a total of 1200 participants from the Macuxi, Wapichana, Wai Wai, Yanomami, Patamona, Sapará, Taurepang, Ingarikó peoples, from the Serra da Lua, Murupú, Amajarí, Tabaio, Alto Cauamé, São Marcos, Surumú, Serras, Baixo Cotingo and Raposa regions, with the participation of youth from the states of Amazonas and Warao from the Janakoida and Tarauparu communities.
Right at the opening of the event, the important speech of the traditional leader, Shaman Mariana, who made a smoke with maruai and highlighted. "Today we hand over the responsibility to you young people, believe in what the shamans say and this respect for mother nature," he said.
From May 12 to 14, topics such as Productions from the regions, carrying only what we can handle in our jamaxim, (Sustainability and Entrepreneurship), youth and their challenges before organizations were discussed. Strengthening the essence of the policy of malocão of indigenous peoples, which we have for youth, space for dialogue with youth, Mental Health.
On the 15th, working groups (WGs) were formed, in addition to the election of the new coordination, reading of the WGs and swearing in of the new state youth coordination.
Alcebias Constantino was elected state youth coordinator in 2019, until 2020. But due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, the leaders chose to reappoint him to the position again. Because in the years 2020 and 2021 there were no assemblies, still due to the pandemic. In 2022, he hands over the position and highlights that the struggle of the indigenous youth of Roraima is just beginning.
"I received many words, motivation, inspiration and that this can come back twice as much to those who told me all these good things. This trajectory of ours is just beginning. We have a very strong base, when they ask me if it was worth it, I say it wasn't, because it will always be worth it. Every sacrifice of ours will be worth it", he commented.
For the deputy coordinator of the CIR, Enock Taurepang, this is the beginning of a lot of struggle ahead. "Alcebias leaves his position now, but already preparing for the next one. There is no feeling to say that he will step aside. Because he will continue in the fight. My feeling for him is this, that we will continue fighting regardless of position or not. We will continue to do what we know how to do. As for the new youth coordination, I hope that Raquel will actually represent women. Now it is a Raquel and Messias coordination, and not just a coordinator", she highlighted.
The new youth coordinator, Raquel Viana, worked for a year and six months as an advisor to the Center, in the coordination of Alcebias Sapará. They have always had as their main banner to work on the line of sustainability. In addition to the strengthening and political training of indigenous youth. Where they sought to meet the demands coming from the grassroots and working together with traditional leaders. She points out that one of the main challenges that was proposed to them was to dialogue with partners so that they could strengthen both the organization and institutional projects.
"Now as the current state youth coordination, we will fight to further strengthen the line to which we already worked in the previous administration. Working together with our regional youth coordinations. I also believe that the biggest challenge now is to reach more communities in the regions and meet their demands. One of the biggest expectations is that Messias and I, as a coordinator, will carry out our work with great success and responsibility. So that those who are at the base, do not see just a coordination, but that they see leaders with their responsibilities. We are young, with responsibility and a very big challenge to carry the jamaxim that our leaders passed on to us to continue this history of struggle and resistance of our ancestors", stressed Raquel.
Election result
The youth decided that from the VII Assembly the State Coordination will have a Vice-Coordinator and so it was approved. Raquel Viana was elected as coordinator with 442 votes and Messias Pereira with 272 votes as Vice-Coordinator.
ACTS OF SUPPORT
The indigenous youth of Roraima also expressed support for Federal Deputy Joenia Wapichana, who was cowardly attacked by miners and supporters of illegal mining in front of the Legislative Assembly of Roraima, while accompanying the commission of Senators who were meeting with the president of the Legislative Chamber, with the aim of investigating environmental crimes, illegal mining and sexual violence that are happening in the Yanomami Indigenous Land. They shouted in the voice of the resistance of the indigenous movement, saying: "within 1500 years they have never silenced us and it is not this time that we will be silent, strength Joênia, you represent us". In addition to singing several traditional songs.
Support was also declared for Yanomami relatives. In which mining in indigenous lands only causes death and destruction of our forests, rivers, lakes and streams. Recently, leaders of the Yanomami indigenous land denounced the sexual abuse that a child suffered by miners. The Uraricoera River is taken over by mercury, becoming a real cemetery. The miners are killing our Yanomami relatives. That the inspection agencies, such as Funai, Federal Police, IBAMA, Federal Public Ministry – MPF, immediately remove all miners from Indigenous Lands.