The Munduruku people live in the Tapajos River basin deep in the Brazilian Amazon, where they currently face numerous threats to their homeland by hydroelectric projects, illegal mining and a new waterway construction on a river that is the last major undammed tributary on the right margin of the Brazilian Amazon. But the Munduruku are exceptionally strong (who doesn’t remember their historic occupation on the Xingu River earlier this year?), and recently gathered one more time to unify their message of strength and resistance during the second assembly of their movement: Ipereḡ ayu, to which Amazon Watch was honored to be invited.
The gathering happened at Restinga Village, where 412 Munduruku people from 62 villages awaited our delegation from the Xingu River with the Xingu Alive Forever Movement, partners from International Rivers, affected people from the Belo Monte dam region, and the Tapajos Alive Movement.
From Altamira to Jacaréacanga (the nearest city), it was a grueling 26-hour journey on the muddy Tranzamazonica highway. Then from Jacaréacanga to Restinga, another two hours by truck and five hours by boat…this was definitely the most challenging trip I have ever made!
But a worthy sacrifice it was. At the village the Munduruku people where beautifully aligned, dancing and chanting to receive us. They brought tears to our eyes and gratitude to our hearts. Over four days we joined them in support of their movement aiming to strengthen and unify their voices in their fight for their lives, territory and culture. The entire meeting was managed by them, and held in their language (with translations as we shared our thoughts and experiences). And although I couldn’t really understand their words, it was the electric energy that really impressed me.
The Munduruku are extremely organized and democratic. Everyone, from the children to the chiefs, had their opportunity to talk and share their views. In order to do that, they would stay inside the meeting all day long (sometimes from 6 am to 3 am), patiently listening and awaiting consensus. There was an order for everything and everyone. As for the meals: fish and yucca flour. Intense meetings were balanced with time for music, dance, jokes and laughter.
Akay Biorébu, second captain of the warriors, said he was made emotional by the gathering because they were able to join with so many voices – from captains and warriors; to students and children.
“The message we want the world to know this is that our people are united and we will be even more united to fight for our rights,” he declared. Antônia Melo from the Xingu Vivo Movement agreed, “this meeting was extremely important because these people know what they want: they are fighting for dignity and life. The decisions they make here will change the course of Brazil’s history.”
Goodbyes were filled with tears of joy and hope. One by one, 412 Munduruku people greeted each one of us. In my heart I couldn’t stop wondering how these people so isolated had such a great notion of territory and rights, and how they could be so strong and ready to face and fight for these rights. As they said: “We are not Brazilian, we are Munduruku. Brazil is an invention created by Europeans but we were here way before and this is our territory. As you are, we are sons and daughters of the same God, and so we deserve to be respected…We know our rights and will fight to protect it, and well as to protect the Amazon.”
