The Indigenous Youth Center of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) held from October 3rd to 6th, at the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Training and Culture Center (CIFCRSS), a State Youth Meeting, with the theme: "Come Here to Listen to our History", to discuss action in the current situation, regional demands and the next steps. Alcebias Sapará is the state coordinator of Indigenous Youth, according to him the meeting serves to understand how the struggles of traditional leaders were, and to unite indigenous youth.
"Little by little we are managing to bring the youth together, to face the challenges, sometimes for fear of prejudice and racism, some are intimidated, however we are following and taking the warrior spirit of all, and the youth meeting is this, to show the reality today, we have direct and indirect contributions, and some young people take office, and they are already tuxauas, foremen, and contribute to the communities, and show the strength of youth in their bases, we are tracing dreams." Quotes the Youth coordinator.
The event brought together about 80 participants, including traditional indigenous leaders and was attended by the executive coordination of the CIR, the General Coordinator Edinho Batista, Vice-coordinator, Enock Taurepang, the General Secretary of the CIR indigenous women's movement, Maria Betânia, and the participation of Federal Deputy Joênia Wapichana, as well as Juma Xipaya, activist and indigenous leader from the state of Pará.
The topics addressed during the meeting were depression and suicide, some young people gave strong testimonies of overcoming and encouragement. The Indigenous Psychologist of the CIR, Iterniza Pereira, from the Macuxi people, was the one who led the dialogue at the request of the young people. Women's empowerment was another of the themes of the meeting, many young leaders during the meeting highlighted the strength of women in the indigenous movement. Raquel Viana, from the Wapichana people, from the Serra da Lua region, is an advisor to the Youth, and says that the event is also to strengthen the bases of the regions, it is to strengthen leaderships, and the experience that the most experienced go through is always important, as well as the appreciation of their achievements.
"Participating these days as a youth leader in the meeting was a great learning experience, because I know that I left there strengthened and with a lot of positive energy, I know that I can trust this youth who is coming to add to their bases, but of course, all with guidance from their leaders." Quotes Wapichana.
On the occasion, the youth also visited the site of the attack on the 'Ten Brothers' called the Ten Brothers' by the traditional leaders, after shooting attacks on the retaken area of the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, on May 5, 2008. According to Paulo Ricardo, a young leader from the Raposa region, says that the responsibility is already on the youth to continue protecting mother earth and that the place is not just about remembering the past.
"The responsibility is ours, because from now on we are the ones who will be leading the indigenous movement, we are the youth who will be fighting for our Mother Earth. The visit for the youth is not just about knowing the history, or remembering the past, and keeping the memory alive," said Paulo when visiting the site.
Everyone at the meeting wore a mask and 70% alcohol gel, in addition to 100% of the participants having already taken at least the 1st dose of the vaccine against Covid-19.
At the end of the meeting, goals were created to be achieved by indigenous youth, and they argued more deeply about supporting traditional leaders.
(photos: Caique Souza/ Ascom - CIR)
