HISTORY
The formalization of the Indigenous Territorial Protection and Surveillance Group (GPVITI) reinforces the continuity of ancestral practices that indigenous peoples have been developing for centuries in the defense of their territories. This initiative also aims to facilitate dialogue with public security agencies of the Federal, State and Municipal governments and to coordinate actions within indigenous lands.
In 2016, the state charter of the VIII Meeting of Indigenous Operators, held in the Manoá community, requested official recognition of the group. Subsequently, in 2019, during the 48th Assembly, the unification of several groups already existing in the communities was approved, consolidating the GPVITI as an integrated structure for territorial protection.
In 2019, the leaders of the regional coordinators of the GPVITI were included in the bylaws of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), guaranteeing them the right to voice and vote.
Each of the CIR's base regions — Serra da Lua, Murupu, Amajari, Wai Wai, Alto Cauamé, Tabaio, Surumu, Baixo Cotingo, Raposa and Serras — has a regional coordination, responsible for the articulation and representation of territorial protection agents. In addition, each community has a local coordination responsible for organizing and conducting internal surveillance activities.
The following year, in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of GPVITI agents was essential to ensure the safety of the communities, controlling access and preventing the entry of strangers. The main monitoring bases where GPVITI agents worked: Serra da Lua Region - Jabuti, Novo Paraíso, Pium, Cachoerinha do Sapo, Alta Arraia, São Domingos, Moskow, Jacamim, Canaunim, Campinho, Tabalascada and Lage; Murupu Region - Truaru da Cabeceira, Morcego and Serra da Moça; Alto Cauamé Region - Sucuba and Raimundão I; Tabaio Region - Barata, Livramento and Pium; Raposa Region: Tucumã, Jacarezinho; Surumu Region: Barro Community; Serra Region: Tabatinga, Caraparu, Socó and Pedra Branca; Amajarí Region: Araçá, Vida Nova and São Francisco.
TRAINING AND MONITORING BASES
The group is composed of men, women, young people and traditional leaders who carry out their activities on a voluntary basis and are recognized and authorized by the communities to carry out territorial surveillance activities. Their activities cover several monitoring bases, including the Wai Wai Indigenous Land; the communities of Boqueirão (Tabaio), Barro (Surumu), Tabatinga, Lage, Pedra Branca and Willimom (Serras), as well as Jacarezinho (Raposa). These bases operate in accordance with internal regulations and regional planning.
FIRST STATE ASSEMBLIES
In 2019, the First State Meeting of Agents for the Protection and Surveillance of Indigenous Territories was held, bringing together more than 200 leaders with the aim of sharing experiences and presenting the main threats to the territories. During the assembly, the state coordination was elected, composed of Kleber Alves Macuxi, from the Banco community (Baixo Cotingo region), and Elizeu Tenente, from the Araçá community (Amajari region).
The II State Meeting took place in February 2022, on Lake Caracaranã, with the participation of indigenous leaders from the state of Maranhão.
The III State Meeting was held in December 2022, in the São Mateus community, at the base of Urucuri, in the Serras region, in the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land. The event brought together more than 250 leaders, who received training on indigenous rights, as well as practical classes on approaches to people and vehicles.
The assemblies were organized by the CIR, with the support and advice of the institution's legal department.
PROTECTING THE TERRITORY
The protection and surveillance of indigenous territories is a fundamental right, as established in article 231 of the Federal Constitution of 1988, which allows its realization in accordance with the social organization of each community and region. However, this does not exempt the Brazilian State from its responsibility to protect and inspect indigenous lands.
Historically, the protection and territorial surveillance of indigenous lands has always been carried out by indigenous peoples, according to their ways of life and social structures. This task is performed by the entire community, including women, youth, children, men and leaders.
The main surveillance activity occurs when the boundaries of indigenous lands are cleared, but everyday activities, such as fishing, hunting and cultivation in the fields, are also seen as forms of territorial monitoring. For the indigenous people, the territories are an extension of their homes.
In Roraima, indigenous peoples protect more than 46% of the state territory and face various forms of invasions, such as the entry of miners, loggers, illegal fishing, clandestine tourism, and drug trafficking. In addition, most communities are located in border areas, which makes them even more vulnerable. These factors were decisive for the formalization of the territorial surveillance group.
On November 16, 2021, during surveillance at the Tabatinga Monitoring base, in the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, indigenous leaders were attacked by the Military Police and BOPE. The attack resulted in five leaders being shot and the destruction of the community.