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A32 FEATURE
Monday 9 SepteMber 2019
In the Amazon, indigenous debate how to save their lands

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO and that’s why we’re here
Associated Press — so that it doesn’t end,”
TEKOHAW, Brazil (AP) — Un- said Lorival Tembé, the el-
der a thatch-roof shelter dest chieftain, a founder of
in the Amazon rainforest, Tekohaw.
warriors wielding bows and “We can’t let it all end: the
arrows, elderly chieftains birds, all the other animals.
in face paint and nurs- We’re worried. We used to
ing mothers gathered to drink water from our river
debate a plan that some and now it’s getting pol-
hope will hold at bay the luted. A lot has changed.
loggers and other invad- Bolsonaro wants to end
ers threatening the tribes of with Indians. But we’re here
the Tembe. to stand up to that.”
Some had travelled long “The world is watching
distances on dirt roads what’s happening in the
that cut through the lush Amazon,” said his son Ser-
jungle, or in boats along gio Muxi Tembé, the cur-
a muddy brown tributary rent village chief.
of the Amazon River, all “We know Bolsonaro
part of a 1,080-square-mile doesn’t like Indians. He’s
(2,766-square-kilometer) anti-Indian,” said the chief,
Alto Rio Guama homeland who wore a headdress of
that is officially protected In this Sept. 3, 2019 photo, a man plays a horn during a meeting of Tembé tribes in Tekohaw macaw and other feathers,
but in practice under siege. indigenous reserve, Para state, Brazil. orange shorts and a tradi-
Some of the men wore a Associated Press tional bone bracelet on his
type of red face paint that ciation, who wore a mask and didn’t leave anything “But that could have dras- wrist next to a Casio digital
signified they were ready made with red dye from behind,” he said. tic consequences. It could watch. “We have a differ-
for war. Recent clashes urucum seeds. “We’re talking about per- lead to deaths. But why are ent culture and that culture
saw the Tembe burning the “How can we be in favor manent forest manage- they doing that? Because must be respected.”
trucks and equipment of il- of a project that willingly or ment so they can sustain the authorities are taking About 600 members of the
legal loggers on their terri- not will cause the cutting themselves long-term, fix too long to arrive.” tribe live in Tekohaw. It’s
tory, which is located in a of our native trees?” she their roads, buy medicines Brazil’s 900,000 indigenous on the banks of the Gurupi
Brazilian state plagued by asked. “Our future is on the and invest on their young people make up about 5% River where many fish for
thousands of fires burning line.” people,” he added. The of the country’s popula- piranhas and other fish that
on cleared jungle lands. Murilo Araújo, an environ- products could be sold tion and their reservations they later grill over wood
Some saw hope in the sus- mental lawyer for Uniflo- to companies around the account for about 14% of fires. Deep in the jungle,
tainable development plan resta, the Association for world that sell sustainably its territory. Bolsonaro has armed with spears and ar-
presented this week at the the Productive Chain of produced goods. argued that such large re- rows, they hunt for birds,
meeting in the village of the Amazon Forest, said the He said he hoped the proj- serves have hindered Bra- pigs and other animals.
Tekohaw. It would include mistrust is normal. ect could help the Tembe zil’s economic interests. From the trees they take
drones and other technolo- “Throughout these 500 avoid conflict. “Right now But the indigenous people traditional medicines, as
gy to curb the encroachers years, they were always en- they’re having to burn of Latin America’s largest well as products they sell,
while helping the Tembe slaved, sidelined. Everyone (logging) trucks, which is economy have everything such as acai, an Amazo-
profit by harvesting wood, who came here always a natural defense mecha- at stake. nian berry that’s a vitamin
bananas and acai berries took something from them nism for them,” Araujo said. “The Amazon is ending and calorie-packed break-
in a limited way from a part fast staple in Brazil.
of their jungle — hopefully Classes had been can-
no faster than the jungle re- celed that day and life in
plenishes itself. the village seemed to have
At one point, a group of been put on hold so the
women and children lined Tembé tribes could debate
up to perform a call and the pros and cons of the
response tribal dance that project for hours, switching
they said would help give between Portuguese and
participants strength and their native Tupi-Guarani
understanding. tongue.
But many remained wary, At some point, the Uniflo-
some fearing the plan resta members presenting
sounded too much like the plan stepped away
President Jair Bolsonaro’s to let the Tembe discuss
calls for opening indige- among themselves, and
nous lands to development handed out candy to a
as a way to spur the na- group of kids near the lo-
tion’s economy. cal school where walls are
“For us, the indigenous, this painted with drawings of
project is worrisome be- handcrafts, caimans and
cause we fight in favor of other Amazonian animals.
the protection of the terri- In the end, the group of
tory,” said Valsanta Tembé, representatives from nine
president of Tekohaw’s In this Sept. 3, 2019 photo, indigenous villagers listen to speakers during a meeting of Tembé tribes tribes decided to wait for
women’s indigenous asso- at the Tekohaw indigenous reserve, Para state, Brazil. Associated Press more details on the plan.q