and carry away many living things from the forests and rivers, then do not return. 8. We know that there are many Instead, they go to the cities, write books, universities in the big cities, and that make movies, print postcards, then sell there are many Brazilian researchers all of these items for profit while our Why do they have to remove items in people remain poor, without care, and order to study them? Why do we have to without support. The National Founda- buy expensive medicines, many ofwhich tion for the Indians proclaims that it resulted from applications of our own controls these entryways yet we never knowledge? For example, the Macuxi saw this control handled in the right tribe has used an herbal medicine for way. We demand that the Brazilian years that is now being studied at a government begin working with the university, and will probably be sold National Foundation for the Indians back to us in the future. The Brazilian to control the entry of outsiders in government needs to acknowledge and indigenous lands. support the research already done by indigenous people. 6. The National Foundation for the Indians has existed for a long time, and 9. The future of our traditional through its services, many outsiders have knowledge, a rare and precious resource visited our land. What has been done for all humankind, might not be secure. with the results of these visits? How has Our pajes and our elders are dying with this work helped our people? When will illnesses that did not exist in the old this assistance arrive? The National days. Many of our children and our Foundation for the Indians must an- young people are dying of illness and swer. The National Foundation for starvation. Therefore, we demand that the Indians should produce a report the authorities assist us in maintainabout this matter and present it to the ing our health and guaranteeing the pajes. survival of our people. 7. We know that various plants, animals, insects, and even our own blood samples are exported from Brazil to other countries. Our land is like an open market, where anyone can enter and carry away whatever they like. We demand that the Brazilian government monitor its own gateways in order to establish a better protection of its own patrimony.
10. The Earth is our Great Mother. Nature is the largest pharmacy that exists in the world. Without nature, our traditional knowledge will not be useful to our people or to the rest of humanity. The invaders' greed has resulted in the transformation of our natural resources into money. This greed has brought sickness, starvation, and death to our people. During the fires in the northern state of
Roraima, many animals, herbs, and vines that we used in our medicines perished, and no longer exist. Our Great Mother Earth is mortally wounded, and if she dies, we will die as well. If she dies, the invaders will have no future. Therefore, we demand protection of our lands. We demand the guarantee, through demarcation, of the space that is necessary for our physical and cultural survival. 11.We know that the Brazilian government is not the only government responsible for the indigenous people's lives and environment. Everything that is exported from our lands, such as wood, minerals, animals, and our blood, go to distant countries. Therefore, these countries are also responsible for our suffering, and the suffering of our relatives throughout the world. There is an International Charter of Indigenous Peoples. We demand that a firm position be taken by the United Nations and by the European Parliament in order to guarantee this Charter and to require that the governments of the world treat environmental issues and the indigenous people with the respect and seriousness they deserve. Our final words are not those of happiness. We ended this encounter very
BRAZZIL - JUNE 1999