The Indigenous Issue in Brazil

Portuguese

Last November, two joint operations conducted in Pará sought to dismantle the robust criminal infrastructure that established illegal mining operations in demarcated Indigenous lands in the state

The Deintrusion Operation and the Operations called “Guardians and Shield” are being carried out in the area of ​​the Munduruku Indigenous Land, located in the municipalities of Jacareacanga and Itaituba, in Pará. 

 Their goal is to remove intruders engaged in illegal gold extraction and ensure that the territory remains exclusively with local indigenous peoples.

Led by the Federal Government and the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), with the participation of more than 20 environmental inspection and protection agencies, the operations caused an estimated loss of R$6.39 million on illegal activities. 

Furthermore, they destroyed and/or disabled 44 boats, 12 heavy machines, seven ripper dredgers, 29 engines, eight generators, two tractors, nine motorcycles, 4,300 liters of fuel, more than 200 grams of mercury, as well as ammunition and chainsaws.

A fine of R$20.27 million was also imposed by ICMBio and 16 aircraft were grounded by the Agência Nacional de Aviação (Anac).

This immense mining structure was operating illegally in an indigenous land that should be protected from the threat that, in addition to illegally exploiting a protected zone, causes immense environmental damage with deforestation and pollution of soil and rivers, essential for the survival of Munduruku society.

The indigenous issue in Brazil is a story with many chapters.

Yanomami Crisis

In early 2023, Brazil and the whole world was shocked by the humanitarian crisis of the Yanomami indigenous people in the Amazon rainforest.

With reports of human rights violations, such as the lack of access to food and medicine, boosted by government apathy that have led to the death of many, this situation opens deep Brazilian wounds of violence and oppression against natives.

This so-called friendly and receptive country has been, actually, home to one of the most menacing and harmful projects of violence towards the indigenous and their cultures. Endorsed by the government and the fundamental institutions of the society, these threats happen in both explicit and subtle. 

Trail of destruction caused by mining in the Yanomami Indigenous Land in Roraima in March 2023. Photo: Dario Kopenawa.

Military Dictatorship

Although it dates back to the beginning of colonization, the indigenous issue worsened during the Military Dictatorship of 1964-1985, when the explorations and urban and economic development of the Amazon reached levels never seen before.

This project created the perception that the rainforest and its inhabitants were enemies to the “growth and happiness of the Nation”.

Additionally, many of these public works led to the death of thousands of members of the groups under discussion – the construction of the Transamazonica Highway alone, for example, was responsible for 8,000.

The propaganda promoted by the military project created the popular belief that the Amazon is a land of opportunities, and its consequences are highly noticeable nowadays, contributing to the Yanomami crisis.

Who are the country’s enemies?

Agribusiness and industries have been threatening indigenous ever since as, empowered by governmental incentives, they can make important decisions about the forest, often favoring their profit over the protection of natives.

Therefore, it is clear that there is a conflict between natives and farmers, and that the first group is at disadvantage.

Suffering great pressure from agribusiness, indigenous groups try to resist the advances and protect their constitutional and ancestral right to use the land.

While these regions have a significant cultural, traditional and environmental value to these groups, they stand out because of their huge agricultural and mining potential, arousing the interests of landowners, industrial and mine owners to expand over it.

As stated by native leaders, farmers and miners can easily occupy indigenous land – illegally –  without facing any charges or consequences at all, as they possess a large political power. Thus, native people not only lose their territory, but also face harmful and irreversible damage.

For instance, deforestation causes environmental alteration – disrupting their ways of life – and the chemicals used in mining and in agribusiness pollute the river waters, on  which they rely on for sustenance, leading to diseases and death.

Civilized vs. savage

Moreover, there are still many nuances around the indigenous issue. An overlooked, but equally harmful, threat against natives is the process of acculturation and whitewashing. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, military and religious men envisioned the “integration” of natives.

The idea of an integration itself is already problematic, as it aimed to “civilize” the “noble savages” to “prevent their extinction” – following the Jean-Jacques Rousseau theory about primitive characters, such as natives, uncorrupted by society.

Although this seems altruistic at first, with a closer look, we can see a different outcome: priests and army people would teach natives the “Brazilian ways and values”, to assimilate them into Brazilian society.

However, this led to a mass process of identity loss, with indigenous culture being erased and replaced with Western traditions – this is known as acculturation and its effects can be seen nowadays.

Also, the entertainment industry was used to sustain this institutionalized operation. Looking back to the 19th century, José de Alencar’s classic novel O Guarani  is a great example of an acculturation and whitewashing attempt.

Aiming to build a national identity to the newly-independent country, the author created the figure of an indigenous hero, named Peri, establishing the “Brazilian standard”, that embodied the brave features of the “noble savage” but favored European characteristics over native traditions.

This ideal served its purpose, as it helped the unification of the inhabitants of Brazil, and was the basis and archetype searched for in the process of “civilization, education and integration” of natives by priests and the army.

Hunger, acculturation, violence and death

To sum up, the Yanomami crisis is just one of the many faces of years of oppression towards natives.

Death of 600 indigenous children, hunger, loss of traditions and territories and lack of government assistance shocked the entire world and are just one of the many cases of physical and symbolic violence against indigenous people that have been occurring since the beginning of Brazil’s colonization.

The assassination attempts and the inefficient medical support, leading to the spread of diseases to the Guarani-Kaiowá in 2022 in Mato Grosso do Sul and the genocide against the Nambiquara people in Mato Grosso using the Agent Orange chemical during the 1970’s are some more examples of aggression, often institutionalized, against natives.

Tackling this, is extremely complex and requires not only governmental action, but also systematic changes in society as a whole. Much more than an important but long-gone chapter of Brazil’s history – a commonly shared misconception among Brazilians – natives are a key part of the country’s present and future.

Yanomami woman carries a baby after the invasion of her territory in Roraima. Photo: Marcos Colón / Personal Archive.

Indigenous importance for the planet

Traces of their influence can be seen on a daily basis: for instance, indigenous words have been incorporated into the Nation’s vocabulary and their cuisine is consumed and praised by many.

It is safe to say that they also play a pivotal role in environmental preservation, as they possess a remarkably sustainable livelihood, meeting their needs without harming nature – bear in mind that native lands are amongst the most preserved on the planet.

Furthermore, they hold an ancient knowledge about the forest, with their ways of life and traditions being blueprints to mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity – much needed in today’s world – and also having many medical and scientific applications.

Their contributions are extremely valued all around the globe, and while this is positive most of the time, it can lead to threats, fueled by greed, to these communities by big corporations, aiming to take monetary advantage of their wisdom.

Overall, indigenous people are essential to understanding Brazilian society and can contribute a lot to the global task of facing the rising climate and environment challenges.

Frederico Aversa is a 17-year-old high school student born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. An avid student of history, literature, and social studies — and empath by nature — his research into indigenous communities stems from his academic curiosities, and has since grown to include advocacy.

Page Layout: Alice Palmeira
Editor-in-Chief: Glauce Monteiro
Editorial Director: Marcos Colón