Accompanied by the legal advisor of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), Júnior Nicácio, and the General Chief of the organization, Amarildo Macuxi, leaders from four regions of the state are in Brasília for an intense agenda.
The incident began on the morning of Monday, October 20th, with a meeting at the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), together with Kleber Karipuna, executive coordinator, and the institution's legal advisors, who listened to the demands and aligned strategies together with the leaders.
The central objective of this initiative is to strengthen the defense of territorial rights and the opposition to the Temporal Framework before the judicial bodies, as well as to demand the completion of the demarcation of Indigenous Lands in the state and to pressure for specific and differentiated attention to be given to demands in the areas of territorial protection, health, and education.
“We are here together with the leaders to bring our demands to the responsible bodies, to learn about the demarcation of indigenous lands, to report on the illegal mining that has been advancing in the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory, to talk about health, the situation of the demarcated Indigenous Territories on islands and, above all, to reinforce that we are against the Temporal Framework,”explained Amarildo Macuxi, General Chief of the CIR.
“We brought a series of demands, including cases of threats against leaders who are denouncing illegal mining in their territories. One example is the Boqueirão indigenous community. We need urgent action from the competent authorities, territorial protection, in addition to the attempted oil exploration in the Tacutu River basin and the construction of the Bem Querer hydroelectric dam. These are a series of actions that affect the lives of indigenous peoples in Roraima.”"This is what Júnior Nicácio, legal advisor to CIR, expressed."
The leadership committee intends to visit various federal government agencies, including the Ministry of Agrarian Development (MDA), the Ministry of Education (MEC), the Secretariat of Indigenous Health (SESAI), the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), and the Supreme Federal Court (STF), in addition to meetings with the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI).
“There are quite a few issues. The issue of illegal miners migrating from the Yanomami Indigenous Territory to the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory is a worrying situation. If there are photo and video records, we can reinforce the request for their removal that already exists for other territories.”, stated Karipuna.
The political and legal advocacy team includes leaders Alane Lima, from the Murupu region; Tuxaua Ivaldo André, from the Serras region; Ana Cátia, from the Raposa region; and Helenilson Cadete, from the Serra da Lua region, as well as the CIR journalist, Helena Leocádio.
“We are here to talk about protecting our territories, which are developing more and more with production and sustainability, but we need strengthening so that we can advance further each day.”"That's all," concluded Ivaldo André.
In the afternoon, the leaders met with the legal advisor of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), Rafael Modesto. Júnior Nicácio highlighted the situation of the demarcated lands on islands and those that are in the process of demarcation and reclamation, such as the indigenous communities of Anzol, Lago da Praia, and Pirititi.
The advisor also mentioned that the protection and surveillance of territories in Roraima are carried out by the Indigenous Territorial Protection and Surveillance Group (GPVTI), due to the absence of the Brazilian State.
“Your presence here is very important; it adds to the indigenous struggle throughout Brazil, and you should indeed demand the application of the indigenous rights guaranteed in the Constitution. We, from CIMI, are here to join the struggle alongside you.”"Rafael reinforced this point."
The leaders also visited the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC), where they were received by the National Secretary for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, Élida de Oliveira, and by Igor Martins, general coordinator of the Program for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.
At the meeting, they discussed the criminalization and protection of indigenous leaders in the fight to defend their territories; support for vulnerable Yanomami indigenous people on the streets of Boa Vista; the use of pesticides affecting demarcated indigenous communities on islands; and the increase in illegal mining.
“We are here so that you can listen to us and seek solutions together with us, who have personally experienced the danger of illegal mining in our territory. We, as women, run the risk of being raped by the invaders.”"This is a true statement," said Ana Cátia, regional coordinator for women in the Raposa region.
Helenilson Cadete presented the territorial issue faced by the Canauanim indigenous community in the Serra da Lua region, and cited the problems caused by the thermoelectric plant and the passage of trucks through the indigenous land."I would like to know how the ministry can contribute in these cases."the chief asked.
Élida offered the ministry's support and emphasized that leaders should seek assistance from the Human Rights Reference Center in Roraima.
"There are various services available there, and it's not something specific only to the Yanomami people. We are open to all peoples, and our protection program can also assist threatened leaders.", he highlighted.
During the incident, the Roraima delegation delivered a memorandum to the representatives of the institutions. The document contains accounts of the situation of the indigenous peoples of Roraima.