Preserving the rainforest together

The annual assembly of the Hutukara Yanomami Association (HAY) [Luciano Padrão/CAFOD]

Hundreds of the Yanomami indigenous people come together over the challenges to preserve the Amazon rainforest and their own future

More than 300 representatives of the Yanomami people from Brazil and Venezuela were told a "united" front is essential to protecting their territory at the third general assembly of Hutukara, the Yanomami People Association.

Indigenous representatives from 30 areas within the Yanomami territory discussed issues such as a draft bill on mining which is being considered in Brazil's Congress.

If approved, the bill will permit large-scale mining in indigenous territories. This would constitute a serious threat not only to the Yanomami but also to many other tribes in Brazil.

United in decisions

Yanomami health was also on the agenda as critical medical care is not reaching Yanomami communities because of alleged corruption and incompetence in Brazil’s National Health Foundation (FUNASA).

Davi Yanomami, one of the Hutukara leaders, explained: “There are many bad things happening in our land-forest - farmers are still occupying our land, small-scale mining is polluting our rivers and destroying our land-forest.

"We want to inform each other and raise awareness about our problems. Hutukara aims to help us to be united to make the right decisions.

"If one of us makes the wrong choice, all of the Yanomami will suffer and we could disappear as a people."

Two members of CAFOD staff also attended the assembly, held in the far north of the Amazon, as Hutukara is a major partner of ours in the region.

Pauline Taylor-McKeown, CAFOD head of international programmes, said: "We were pleased to be able to attend as an opportunity to strengthen our solidarity with indigenous people and their fight to get basic rights respected.

"The participants were amazed that we had travelled to the meeting and were able to explain in person how their fight is also important to us in the north and how issues of deforestation and climate change have an impact on us all."

"For some groups, attending the meeting meant four days walking and many miles by boat. They came in groups that included small children and the elderly.

"More importantly for these traditional tribes, women came too, bringing their contribution of fish, game and their traditional bread made of cassava wrapped in leaf rucksacks on their backs."

The attendees also brought their hammocks, hunting tools, natural colouring for body paintings and elaborate feather ornaments which have a spiritual significance for any ceremonial gathering.

Created in 2003, Hutukara is now consolidating its role representing many different Yanomami sub-groups such as Xamatari, Yanomama, Yawaripe, Sanuma, Ninan and the Ye’Kuana people (who also live in the region).

As the pressure on the forest grows and other people move into their regions, Yanomami’s leaders face an ever-growing challenge particularly in health problems such as malaria and tuberculosis.

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