The demonstrations held by Indian organizations in Brasilian
Amazonia in remembrance of the 500 years that have passed since the
Europeans first arrived in America became demonstrations of protest,
against violence and an affirmation of the Indian resistance. The
demonstrations were held in Manaus and Boa Vista, the capitals of the
States of amazonas and Roraima.
The colonization of America is to be remembered as "500 years of
shame", said Makuxi professor Euclides Pereira to approximately 600
people gathered in Boa Vista on the 12th of this month, carryng banners
in support of the demarcation of the Indian lands. Waldir Tobias Makuxi,
Vice President of the Indianist Council of Roraima (CIR), recalled the
death threats voiced against Indian leaders because of their desire to
have their lands demarcated. Up to now, we're still alive, but we're
being threatened by farmers." According to Makuxi Indian Jaci de Souza,
the Indians are many times forced to leave their villages only at night,
in order to avoid direct confrontations with invaders of the Indian area.
Yanomami Indian Davi Kopenawa, who was awarded the Global Prize
500 of the United Nations (UN), denounced a new invasion of his
people's territory by almost two thousand gold prospectors, who
brought diseases and are polluting rivers. Among other diseases,
malaria and tuberculosis have killed almost sixty Yanomami this year.
According to dom Aldo Mongiano, the Bishop of Roraima, the
demonstration, an evidence of how the Indians have become an
organized group, shows that the Indian peoples are ready to assume
their autonomy. He expressed his agreement with the words of the
Pope John Paul II, who called on the Indians of Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic, "to forgive those who, for 500 years, brought
pain and suffering" to Indian peoples.
In Manaus, the 500 years led to debates at the State Legislative
Assembly and to the promotion of a show with 10 local artists. After
each song, Indian leaders made speeches, highlighting the resistance of
the peoples who, for thousands of years, have been in America.
"We want to have the right to tell our story", said Bare Indian
Orlando Melgueiro, a member of the Board of Indian Organizations of
Brasilian Amazonia, recalling the genocide that occurred in Brazil.
In 1500, the Indian population was over 6 millions; today, it is
only 250 thousand. "We cannot celebrate the genocide. They died
to defend life and the land rights, and this is the example that we
will follow in our actions."
Brasilia, October 15, 1992
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council