In 2021, the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since then, there have been five decades of achievements, but above all of many struggles and resistance. All this history began in the 1970s. At that time, indigenous peoples lived and still live today a strong oppression by farmers and miners who continue to invade our lands to this day.
It was a very hard time, in which the communities felt hostile, as they were forbidden to hunt, fish within their own lands and even had their gardens destroyed. Many children were taken from their families and forced to work on farms and mines. Another evil taken by non-indigenous people into the communities was alcohol, which generates many conflicts and violence to this day.
The area of operation of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) covers the 35 indigenous lands of Roraima, with an extension of more than 10 million hectares, where a population of 58,000 indigenous people lives in 465 communities throughout the state of Roraima, of the Macuxi, Wapichana, Ingarikó, Patamona, Sapará, Taurepang, Wai-Wai, Yanomami, Yekuana and Pirititi ethnic groups. The direct action of the CIR is developed through the 10 regional councils that form its base of action, involving the ethnoregions of the Serras, Surumú, Baixo Cotingo, Raposa, Amajarí, Wai-Wai, Tabaio, Serra da Lua, Murupú and Alto Cauamé and a population of around 30,000 inhabitants distributed in 255 associated indigenous communities.
Currently, the CIR is composed of Departments: Financial Administrative Department, Department of Territorial and Environmental Management (DGTA), Legal. Communication, Projects, Youth Center and General Secretariat of Indigenous Women.
Formation of Councilors and the decision of the Vai ou Racha
After many years of suffering, in January 1971, the leaders of the communities and regions decided to unite and held a large meeting, this was the first Assembly of the Tuxauas. The meeting took place in the Barro community, Surumú region, where it all began. Every year the Tuxauas met to debate and try to solve some situations. However, the problems remained and the conflicts over the territory became more violent and bloody every day. Many relatives were expelled from their homes, others lost their lives fighting and defending what was rightfully theirs, the Land.
On April 26, 1977, in the Maturuca indigenous community, in the Serras region, Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, came the main decision that marked the new beginning for the indigenous communities. It was the assembly of the"Go or Break". It was at this meeting that the indigenous people came together to say no to alcohol and yes to the community. From this decision, regional councils emerged that helped solve the problems and strengthened the organization among the communities.
It is important to remember that from 1971 to 1989, there were important articulations with a small group of indigenous people, these were called Counselors. And each region had its advisor. One of the first was the tuxaua Gabriel Macuxi, from the Raposa region. The tuxaua Gabriel sought support from partners to support the indigenous communities according to their needs.
In 1980, with the arrival of the"A cow for the Indian"of community cattle raising, made it possible to reconquer the land and strengthened the autonomy of the communities. In 1986, the regional councils began to have a headquarters in Boa Vista-RR to facilitate the articulation for public policies and indigenous rights. Especially in the areas of health and education. And then a statewide organization was created, the Indigenous Council of the Territory of Roraima (CINTERR). The formal creation of the CIR took place on August 30, 1990 due to the emancipation of the Territory to the State of Roraima in the Federal Constitution of 1988.
From the beginning, the main banner of the movement was the struggle for territories. The demarcation of the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, which was a struggle waged by the leaders for more than 30 years and this was the symbol of these achievements. The demarcation and ratification was a legal and political milestone for indigenous rights in Brazil. Currently, the CIR represents 255 communities and also defends the rights of more than 70 thousand indigenous people from 10 peoples.
It is worth noting that, in addition to great struggles, there are also important achievements such as: in education, in the training of indigenous teachers through the Magisterium and also with the creation of the Insikiran Institute and in health with the training of Indigenous Health Agents – AIS. There was also the implementation of the Territorial Protection and Surveillance Group – GPVIT in the communities.
To achieve these objectives, the CIR over the years has been developing various activities in the areas of health, education, culture, environmental management, social promotion, sustainable development and participation in public policies, respecting the social and cultural organization of the various indigenous peoples of the state. The CIR is one of the most active indigenous organizations in Brazil, with local, regional, national and international operations.
SEE THE LIST OF COORDINATORS IN THE LAST 30 YEARS:
1st Coordination – 1989 to 1990
General Coordinator – Terêncio Luiz Silva – Macuxi – Surumú Region
Vice-coordinator – Jacir José de Souza – Macuxi – Serras region
2nd Coordination – 1990 to 1992
General Coordinator – Clóvis Ambrósio – Wapichana – Serra da Lua Region
Vice-coordinator – Valdir Tobias
3rd Coordination – 1993 to 1994
General Coordinator – Euclides Pereira – Macuxi – Surumú Region
Vice-coordinator – Clóvis Ambrósio – Wapichana – Serra da Lua region
4th Coordination – 1995 to 1996
General Coordinator – Nelino Galé – Macuxi – Baixo Cotingo Region
Vice-coordinator – José Adalberto – Macuxi
5th Coordination – 1997 to 2000
General Coordinator – Jerônimo Pereira – Macuxi – Tabaio Region
Vice-coordinator – Desmano de Souza – Macuxi – Raposa region
6th Coordination – 2001 to 2005 – two terms
General Coordinator – Jacir José de Souza – Macuxi – Serras Region
Vice-coordinator – Noberto Cruz – Wapichana – Serra da Lua region
7th Coordination – 2005 to 2006
General Coordinator – Marinaldo Trajano – Macuxi – Baixo Cotingo Region
Vice-coordinator – Jairo da Silva – Macuxi – Murupú region
8th Coordination – 2007 to 2009
General Coordinator – Dionito José de Souza – Macuxi – Serras Region
Vice-coordinator – Terêncio Salomão – Wapichana – Serra da Lua region
Secretariat-Marizete de Souza- Macuxi- Serras Region
9th Coordination – 2011 to 2017 – three terms
General Coordinator – Mário Nicácio – Wapichana – Serra da Lua Region
Vice-coordinator – Ivaldo André – Macuxi – Serras region
Secretary-Telma Marques- Taurepang- Amajarí region
10th Coordination – 2017 to 2019
General Coordinator – Enock Tenente – Taurepang – Amajarí Region
Vice-coordinator – Edinho Batista – Macuxi – Serras region
Secretary- Maria Bethânia Mota de Jesus- Macuxi- Amajarí Region
11th Coordination – 2021 – term in force
General Coordinator – Edinho Batista – Macuxi – Serras Region
Deputy Coordinator – Enock Tenente – Taurepang – Amajarí Region
Secretary - Maria Bethânia Mota de Jesus - Macuxi - Amajarí region.
The article had the collaboration of the indigenous communicator, Nailson Almeida/ Wakywai network.