The demarcation of the Awa' Indian Area, belonging to the Guaja'
Indians, located in the State of Maranha~o, is being delayed because
the Brazilian Army has not prepared the budget for the demarcation
works so far. The area, which is located in the pre-Amazon region,
was invaded by farmers, squatters and large companies. Because of the
lack of concrete demarcation measures, conflicts with the invaders have
already claimed the lives of five Guaja' Indians in the last two years.
The funds for the demarcation were allocated by the Vale do Rio
Doce Company (CVRD), the state-owned company responsible for economic
projects in the region. However, the funds will only be actually
released after the budget is presented. The National Indian Fundation
(FUNAI) asked the Army to calculate the costs last December. In
February, it replied that a new covenant would have to be signed with
the Indianist agency for the work to be carried out, since the
existing agreement between them did not include an economic clause, and
provided only for noneconomic cooperation activities. However, no
proposal was presented so far. Because of te presence of invaders in
the area, it would be very difficult for a company to demarcate it.
In the Awa' Area, there are Guaja' Indians who never had any contact
with the surrounding society. The area began to be invaded in the 50's
by migrants from drought areas of northeastern Brazil. In the 60's,
colonizations projects enabled new invaders to settle there.
The Vale do Rio Doce Company began to play a role in the history
of the Guaja' as of the 80's, when the Grande Caraja's Project was
launched, for the purpose of exploiting one of the largest beds of
iron ore in the world. A railroad was built to transport the ore,
directly affecting the Guaja'. Groves of palmtrees of different kinds
and areas where the Indians used to move about were destroyed for the
purpose of building the railroad. In the beginning of the works, the
Guaja' used to shoot arrows at the tractors of Vale do Rio Doce. The
railroad valorized the lands located in the region and facilitated
even more the invasion of the Guaja' territory.
Accusations of aggressive acts against the Indians led the
company to sign a covenant with FUNAI in 1982 for the purpose of
protecting Indian communities affected by the Project. The covenant
provides for the demarcation of the Awa' Area and the removal of the
invaders from it. However, Vale do Rio Doce has not been abiding by
the covenant and sometimes even connives at the illegal activities of
invaders. It is a known fact that the sleepers used in the railroad
are bought from one of the principal invaders of the Indian territory.
The demarcation of the Guaja' lands and the removal of invaders
from them will not only make it feasible for this people to survive,
but will also lessen conflicts.
Brasi'lia, March 18th, 1993
CIMI - Indianist Missionary Council