Brazil--Kayapo split over benefits of mining and logging
9/22/94
OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE
Following is a news items posted by the Indianist Missionary
Council in econet's rainfor.general conference which highlights
the dilemna facing indigenous peoples--desiring a better life
materially but having few options to utilize their bountiful
resources in the market economy. Often, as in this case, such
decisions create conflict in indigenous communities.
g.b.
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Topic 154 Miners expelled from kayapo land
ax:cimi General Rainforest Issues 11:54 AM Sep 22, 1994
Newsletter n. 131
KAYAPO' INDIANS EXPEL 2,000 MINERS
FROM THEIR LANDS IN BRAZIL
Last week, about 2,000 miners were expelled from the Kayapo'
Indian Area, located in the state of Para', Brazilian Amazonia, by
older leaders of the Gorotire village, who are against the
agreements which some younger leaders and the invaders have been
entering into. These agreements have not brought any financial
benefits to the community and have given rise to a higher rate of
diseases among the Indians, particularly malaria. Moreover,
because of them, the rivers are being more and more polluted with
mercury. A large part of the equipment used by the miners was
destroyed by the Kayapo'.
The first contracts for the exploitation of gold in Indian areas
were signed in the early 1980s, with the participation of the
government. Contracts were also signed with woodcutters around the
same period. However, few leaders are deriving any benefits from
the exploitation of these resources. The Kayapo' Indian Tapiete,
according to FUNAI (National Indian Foundation), owns four
airplanes.
Many sectors are pressuring for the return of the miners. Most of
them stayed near the Indian territory, and about 500 were taken to
Reden depends on the gold and timber taken from the kayapo' territory.
The miners are armed and threatened to destroy FUNAI's
headquarters in Reden aggression. The miners might have been taken to Reden by the mayor of the city, who has been accused of exploiting gold
in the Indian area.
The Kayapo' Indians Tapiete and Kubei' proposed an agreement under
which the miners would be allowed to return to the area and stay
there for a period of six months. But there is no means to ensure
that they would leave the Indian territory after that period, and
no one can tell whether the proposal will be accepted by the
community of the Gorotire village.
Even the Indians who decided to expel the miners know that it will
not be easy to settle the conflict. Gorotire depends on the
resources derived from the trade of gold and timber taken from the
lands surrounding it, which are used, among other things, to pay
off debts in Reden interrupted, economic alternatives will have to be devised to
ensure the survival of the community.
Brasi'lia, September 22, 1994
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council