Situation of Indigenous Peoples in Mato Grosso do Sul
+ INDIGENIST MISSIONARY COUNCIL - CIMI
On the other hand, we are often discriminated against by the
media. The local media is especially against the indigenous people;
they publish untruths, and try to hinder our mobilization. Lately
we are getting more space in the media as a whole. The matter
of Nísio's death is an example of that. Now we have some people
who know how to deal with that. They are prepared to deal with
the media. The internet also helps a lot, because many base sites
the media just can't reach, or the only media available is that
against us. We are there taking pictures, showing the reality of
the situation and using the pages and e-mails from our network of
partner organizations to spread our version of the events, and that
is ultimately noticed by the traditional media.
What has stricken you the most during your work?
First of all, the resistance strength of the Guarani-Kaiowá, even
when faced with the suffering of their children, their women crying
under attack and threats when they were helpless. Even with
persecutions, with our lack of means, we won't quit fighting. We are
pursuing our rights. In any fight, in any movement, we always keep
faith, the hope that we will achieve our goals. That is the teaching
that we receive. And that makes me stronger to keep fighting.
Something else that stroke me, but on the downside, is how
long it's taking to have the issue in Mato Grosso do Sul sorted.
That makes things harder for us, for the people who are there. Life
becomes difficult, thus leading to more persecutions and deaths.
So we need to have that matter solved. At least those areas that
are being repossessed need to be demarcated. Even if the area is
not extensive, but at least they will be on a piece of land that they
know they own and that they want back.
You mentioned that the movement claims and discusses issues
other than land. What are they?
When they demarcate our lands, we'll especially need a lot
of support for production, because there's no use in owning land
without support to work the land. The land that the Guarani-
Kaiowá are claiming is highly degraded as it is. There's no more
forest and no more fish. And we have a great deal of work ahead
of us to recover the land, and make a living out of it. Investments in
education and healthcare are also required in those regions.
Without these things, we risk repeating the situation of the
indigenous reserve of Dourados: overpopulation lacking decent
living conditions which led to violence, drug dealing, alcoholism
and children dying of malnutrition. With support and incentive
policies, we can prevent other indigenous lands from becoming a
"new Dourados".
Did you feel your life was under threat when you used to work
at the base?
Yes. Since 2007, I couldn't stay long in one place, in one
settlement, during the time I worked at the base. If I spent the
month in one village, the next month I had to move to another. That
had an influence on my separation. I don't have a place to stay quiet
with my family. It's a difficult situation. We are afraid because we
have nowhere to run. So, we have to face this life. We have no other
choice. We must go after what is ours.
Now I'm living in Brasília, working on a national level, but it is
a temporary situation. I will go back one day because my home is
there. I belong to those lands.
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