‘We see the Yanomami People recovering’, says Indigenous leader from Brazil

By Ian Vitor Freitas – From Cenarium

BOA VISTA (RR) – On Monday, the 20th, it marked two years since the Federal Government’s public health emergency decree for the Yanomami Indigenous Territory (YIT). According to Junior Hekurari Yanomami, president of the Yanomami URIHI Association and an Indigenous leader, the initiatives are restoring well-being to the Indigenous communities in the region.

Since the beginning of these efforts, actions have focused on restoring the way of life and hope for Indigenous peoples, prior to the expansion of illegal mining in the area. A total of 33 agencies are involved, including the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai).

During the 5th Leadership Forum in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in September 2024, Junior Hekurari highlighted how the lives of Indigenous peoples have recovered from the crisis that began in 2023.

“In 2023, at the start of the Federal Government’s operation, the Yanomami people were found abandoned. Many people died from malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, worms, and were completely without medicine when the state of emergency was declared. Today, we see the Yanomami people recovering, with children playing in the communities. The government is showing its efforts and restoring well-being to the communities,” he said.

The Yanomami IT spans 9.6 million hectares across the states of Amazonas and Roraima and is home to over 27,100 Indigenous people, according to the 2022 Demographic Census by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

In an interview with CENARIUM in January this year, Junior Hekurari emphasized that despite improvements in the region, the Federal Government’s efforts must continue until the last illegal miner is removed.

“It is crucial that the Federal Government continues its work in the territory, maintaining operations until the last miner is removed, so the situation does not revert to what it was in 2022. Our hopes are renewed. The trees and fruits are growing again. Even though the fish are still contaminated, we have no other food sources, so we have resumed fishing. The Special Secretariat of Indigenous Health (Sesai) must also keep its activities ongoing because we are still suffering significantly from malaria,” the leader pointed out.

Food in TIY

With the crisis declared in 2023, one of the Federal Government’s primary objectives was to work through Funai to ensure hunger relief in the region. Measures included delivering food baskets, following recommendations from nutritionists to include foods familiar to Indigenous diets.

Due to the high rates of malnutrition, Funai increased deliveries in 2024 and focused on reviving farming practices to reduce dependence on food aid.

From January 2023 to December 2024, the Federal Government delivered over 117,000 food baskets to the YIT. These deliveries and Funai’s promotion of ethno-development significantly improved food security for vulnerable Indigenous communities.

For agricultural production, Funai provided tools, seeds, flour production kits, and hunting equipment, along with guidance on using these resources.

Combating Illegal Mining

In March 2024, the Federal Government established the Government House in Boa Vista to combat illegal mining. This permanent presence aims to sustain efforts initiated in 2023. To date, the Government House has carried out over 3,536 anti-mining operations.

According to Federal Government reports, teams conducted 19,365 interventions, leading to 2,516 fines, 229 notices, and 159 arrests, directly targeting criminal networks.

“The fines totaled R$11.4 million, financially weakening illegal operations. These actions also caused a cumulative loss of R$267 million to illegal mining, significantly disrupting logistical activities,” the Federal Government stated.

Ongoing Dialogue and Territorial Protection

To advance actions in the YIT , the Federal Government maintains constant dialogue with the Yanomami and Ye’kwana peoples. Using a Consultation Protocol developed by Indigenous leaders, these conversations are essential for crafting and implementing effective projects to address the crisis.

According to Ênio Mayanawa, a Yanomami leader, cooperation between Indigenous associations and institutions is key to creating successful policies for the territory.

“When associations [Indigenous] work with institutions, integrating efforts, the projects succeed. When we are not consulted, problems arise. It is important to have harmony, work together, and make these projects happen so public policies help the communities. That is what the Yanomami people need”, he said during a meeting with public agencies in August 2024.

Focusing on territorial protection, Funai teams also conduct monitoring and surveillance activities. These efforts are led by the Yanomami Ye’kwana Ethnoenvironmental Protection Front (CFPE-YY), a decentralized Funai unit, and include expeditions, aerial monitoring, and on-the-ground presence in the YIT.

These activities are carried out in consultation with Indigenous communities to ensure their unique needs are respected. The work also aims to protect isolated Indigenous groups in the region. Funai teams monitor these groups from a distance, following Brazil’s no-contact policy for isolated peoples.

Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves