New Pictures Validate Brazil’s Yanomami Territory

November 22, 2011

[2]Survival International has released new pictures of an uncontacted
[3]Yanomami village in Brazil, 20 years after one of its crucial campaigns
created the biggest forested indigenous territory in the world.
Links:
1. http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/7899

2. http://www.survivalinternational.org

3. http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/yanomami

Survival International, Yanomami leader [4]Davi Kopenawa and Brazil’s Pro
Yanomami Commission were instrumental in securing the victory.
Links:
4. http://www.survivalinternational.org/material/1157

These new pictures emphasize how important the territory is in protecting
the Yanomami from [5]goldminers who devastated the tribe in the 1980s.
Links:
5. http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/yanomami/intruders#main

The ‘Yanomami Park’ is one of many initiatives spearheaded by Survival
International. In a [6]new section of its website, it highlights how the
time when entire peoples could be wiped out without anyone noticing is
drawing to a close.
Links:
6. http://www.survivalinternational.org/goodnews

Survival’s Director Stephen Corry said today, ‘Survival’s supporters can be
immensely proud of the success that this sighting represents. Of course many
tribal peoples including the [7]uncontacted Yanomami, are still threatened
by the illegal occupation of their land, so we can't afford to give up the
fight. The very existence of uncontacted Yanomami, however, proves that
persistent campaigning pays off. Here’s to many more such victories.’
Links:
7. http://www.uncontactedtribes.org

The Yanomami suffered years of oppression at the hands of gold-miners.
Violence and disease saw their population fall by 20 percent in just seven
years.
Links:
8. http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/7899

Brazil’s government announced its decision to outline the borders of a
Yanomami territory in November 1991. It was signed into law the following
year.

These new pictures, taken by Yanomami for their association, [9]Hutukara,
show how uncontacted members of the tribe continue to live in the Amazon,
building traditional malocas at the heart of their communities.
Links:
9. http://hutukara.org

But whilst recognition of Yanomami land rights has improved conditions for
the tribe, very real threats still exist. Illegal goldmining camps continue
to operate just 15 kilometers from uncontacted Yanomami.

[10]Illegal mining on Yanomami land transmits deadly diseases like malaria
and pollutes the rivers and forest with mercury.
Links:
10. http://www.survivalinternational.org/films/yanomamiland

At least 800 people from Brazil’s army and police force are now involved in
a mission to remove illegal goldminers. It has been reported that so far 30
have been evicted.

Source:
http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/7899
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