Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tocantins (Agenzia Fides) – Organized by Cimi (Indigenous Missionary Council), the First Meeting of Indigenous Peoples of Goias and Tocantins was held May 24 to 27, on the Campus of the State University of Tocantins, in Palmas, Brazil. With the theme "Challenges for the defense of territories and indigenous rights," the event brought together about 350 natives from different villages in the region.
According to reports received by Fides, conferences and forums were organized around the central theme. Also, there was a revision of the Statute of Indigenous Peoples, the restructuring of FUNAI (National Foundation of the Indian), the activities of the National Commission for Indigenous Policy, and issues relating to health and education of Aboriginal peoples. There were also musical and cultural performances by indigenous peoples. The most important question was on major projects,as the event was indeed characterized by debates and discussions on major projects of the Growth Acceleration Program (CAP) being prepared for the region.
For representatives of the peoples Krahô, Karaja, Apinajé, Xerente, Krikati, Xambioá, Krahô Kanela, Java, and Tapuia, among others, these works bring only suffering and death for their communities. This is a vision very different from that proposed by the federal government, which continues to say that the work will lead to development and better living conditions for indigenous peoples in the country.
According to data collected by the Indigenous Missionary Council, there are plans for about 430 jobs that relate to indigenous areas and most (144 projects) are hydraulic works. In the state of Tocantins, there are 16 hydroelectric projects and 17 in Goias, as the Under-Secretary of CIMI, Saulo Ferreira Feitosa, has stated. The leader of the indigenous group, the Apinajé, questioned the lack of investment in education, especially for finding other sources of energy: "We know what is happening to the people of Xingu, poor people! We cannot afford to continue the work of these dams. We will continue to say that the dam is not a good thing." During the intermissions in the conference, the natives presented the traditions of their people, singing and dancing, characterized by joy and hope for better days. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 29/05/2010)
