Opinion – Leandro Narloch: Indigenous leaders defend mining on their lands

From the news in most of the press and TV channels, one has the impression that the Indians are, in chorus, against the regularization of mining. Is not true.

Many indigenous communities in the Amazon not only advocate mining, but have practiced it for decades. Tired of depending on the state, their leaders want autonomy to explore their territories and a legal environment that does not turn them into criminals.

And they resent it when artists and environmentalists claim to represent them.

I spoke this week with three indigenous leaders who represent diverse communities in the Amazon. Below what they said:

Felisberto Cupudunepá (MT)
President of the Cooperative of Indigenous Farmers and Producers of Brazil (Coopaibra)

“The vast majority of the artistic class does not even know an indigenous land. If they do, it was only at a party, in a ritual, and they leave thinking they know everything. say they are saving the indigenous people.

No indigenous leadership can speak on behalf of all peoples. There is no such unanimity. You have to respect the rights of indigenous people who want to develop mining, just as you have to respect those who don’t want to develop. The rights of one cannot override that of the other. The law needs to make it clear that whoever wants to do it has the right to do it, without forcing those who don’t want to.

There is ignorance on the part of the population, on the part of environmentalists and artists who sell an image of the project to regulate exploitation that will destroy everything. In fact, the destruction is already happening.

In the way that mining has been practiced today, it causes a great environmental and social impact. Many indigenous people are enticed to authorize exploitation. And there is a lot of prostitution, as many communities continue to be in need.

They have communities that basically make a living from mineral exploration, but illegally. Many leaders end up being criminalized. The regulation would bring criteria to explore and to inspect: environmental control plans, area recovery plan, impact mitigation plan, social investment, profit sharing. It can generate a benefit that does not exist today.

It is necessary to provide conditions for indigenous people to have their autonomy, their independence, so that they are no longer dependent on the Brazilian State. Indigenous peoples need to stand on their own two feet.”

Arnaldo Zunizakae Paresi (MT)
Indigenous Farmers Group

“People, non-governmental organizations or even public sector bodies end up talking as if they were the Indians, or saying what they think the Indian wants to hear. But for us, indigenous people, it is very important that mining is regulated in our lands.

The current model that is in force today in indigenous lands, with clandestine mining, without regularization, causes all kinds of violence. Both violence against the environment and against the people who are there.

It brings disease, prostitution and drugs. This exists because the people who are there have no rules to follow. The indigenous person who circulates inside the mines is seen as a beggar, as someone who is begging for alms.

Mining needs to be regulated so you can give CPF and CNPJ to the people inside. So that they comply with the legislation and, when they do not, they can be punished or suffer criminal prosecution. But the way it is today, there are no rules, it is impossible to know who is operating.

There is no mining on indigenous land that does not have the consent of the indigenous people. It may be that, at a certain point in the work, the Indians are against it because they think they are not receiving a fair value. Regularization would make this all clearer.”

Marcelo Cinta Larga
Chief of Roosevelt village (RO)

“Some indigenous people are against legalization because they don’t know how it will happen. Who will explore? Will we have autonomy? Will the company want to prohibit indigenous participation? Will it benefit more?

Others are against it because they don’t have ore on their land. But those who have ore certainly want to discuss legalization. A legalization that really benefits indigenous people, that doesn’t just give them crumbs.

Environmentalists say they are there to defend the environment and the indigenous people, but many use indigenous people as a pretext to raise funds. And also, they only offer crumbs.”