Brazil strengthens protection for indigenous communities near Venezuela

By Ian Vitor Freitas – From Cenarium

BOA VISTA (RR) – The 44th Annual Assembly of Leaders and Tuxauas of the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory (IT) in Roraima, on the border with Venezuela, was held under the theme “Unite to Strengthen the Organization in Defense of Indigenous Peoples and Territories.”

The meeting, held on Monday, the 13th, included the participation of members of the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai). The event aimed to bring together leaders, organizations, and Indigenous communities to discuss topics such as territorial protection and sustainable development in Indigenous lands.

The assembly featured cultural demonstrations, such as traditional dances and songs, which complemented its main focus: debate.

According to Funai President Joenia Wapichana, the meeting is essential for strengthening Indigenous rights and organizations, as well as broadening dialogue to improve Indigenous policy.

“We are presenting the work Funai has done to defend territories and Indigenous peoples’ rights, not only here in the Raposa Serra do Sol IT, but throughout Brazil. Funai stands alongside Indigenous peoples to fight against any rollback of rights, reaffirming its role as a federal Indigenous agency”, she said.

The president also highlighted progress in Indigenous policies, such as the 13 demarcations and 11 boundary declarations of Indigenous lands since the beginning of the current administration. Additionally, Funai operates under the guidelines of the National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Territory(PNGATI) to guide and support environmental and territorial management already carried out by Indigenous peoples on their lands, ensuring the autonomy of the communities.

At the event, Funai’s regional coordinator in Roraima, Marizete Macuxi, emphasized the agency’s work in the region with Indigenous peoples. “Funai has been working to strengthen the sustainability of territories and the existing projects in the communities”, she said, stressing the efforts made by the Regional Coordination in the state through ongoing dialogue with Indigenous peoples.

Funai’s Challenges and Goals for 2025

In an interview with CENARIUM, Funai’s General Coordinator for the Promotion of Ethnodevelopment (CGEtno), Jefferson Fernandes, highlighted some of the challenges for 2025. This coordination is responsible for regional development, implementing programs and actions related to ethnodevelopment.

According to Jefferson, key challenges in Roraima this year include food and nutritional security, sustainability, and the autonomy of Indigenous communities.

“One of the main challenges and goals of this General Coordination, not only in Roraima but more broadly, is to not only focus on production but also ensure that Indigenous communities have the conditions to maintain their autonomy and protect their cultural and environmental characteristics. For instance, through projects aimed at cultivating foods better suited to Indigenous communities’ diets”, he said.

It is worth noting that the Indigenous population living in villages in Roraima is approximately 89,000 people. The Yanomami and Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territories are the most populated in Brazil, with around 27,000 and 26,000 Indigenous inhabitants, respectively, according to data from the 2022 Census by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

Finally, data from the 2017 Agricultural Census show that Roraima is one of the Brazilian states with the highest number of Indigenous agricultural establishments, with the Raposa Serra do Sol and Truaru Indigenous Territories standing out.

Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves