In defense of Brazil's native peoples
We are the last generation who can save the Amazon rainforest
An initiative from an independent group of brazilians based on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations to support Brazil's indigenous people's fight against the Marco Temporal (historic cut-off point).
The Amazon Day is September 5th,
we need to act against the Marco Temporal
The battle is not yet won: although deforestation rates are falling, the Amazon continues to be at serious risk. Indigenous people in Brazil are fighting against the Marco Temporal (historic cut-off point), a legal argument that only those lands that were occupied by Indigenous people when the Brazilian Constitution was enacted, on October 5, 1988, can be demarcated. In short: only the people who were in the areas on that date can claim title to the land. This approach ignores the fact that a number of Indigenous groups and villages were expelled from their territories and persecuted at that time.
"Besides being harmful, the Marco Temporal erases us from history" – The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil – APIB
Articles to learn more about what's happening
One way to support Indigenous people of the Amazon is to learn more and share this knowledge with your community.
- How the marco temporal (historic cut-off point) affects Indigenous land demarcationby Rafael Moro Martins at Sumauna on June 2023Also available in Portuguese and Spanish
- Brazil’s Indigenous Groups Mount Unprecedented Protest Against Destruction of the Amazonby Andrew Fishman at The Intercept on August 2021
- Indigenous communities in danger of being erased from the map in Brazilby Chris Greenberg at Greenpeace on July 2021
- Indigenous Sovereignty: the contention of Marco Temporalby Anton Rivette at Eco-nnect on July 2023
- Historic cut-off point: the timeframe of Xokleng children isn’t the timeframe of white men’s justiceby Ângela Bastos at Sumauna on August 2023Also available in Portuguese and Spanish
- The Xokleng’s brutal origins of the historic cut-off point debateby Ângela Bastos at Sumauma on June 2023Also available in Portuguese and Spanish
Suggested Books
Another way to support the movement is to read books from Brazilian indigenous people and maybe go beyond and start a book club in your community.
Ideas to Postpone the End of the World
Written by Ailton Krenak Translated by Anthony Doyle“Ailton Krenak’s ideas inspire, washing over you with every truth-telling sentence. Read this book.” — Tanya Talaga, bestselling author of Seven Fallen Feathers“We need this Right Now! Ideas to Postpone the End of the World.” — Margaret Atwood, bestselling author of The Handmaid's TaleBorrow it from Vancouver Public LibraryShop localShop online
The Falling Sky: Words of a Yanomami Shaman
Written by Davi Kopenawa and Bruce Albert Translated by Nicholas Elliot and Alison DundyBorrow it from Vancouver Public LibraryShop localShop online
Suggested Films
You can also learn from watching some films about Brazilian indigenous people and maybe go beyond and start a cine club in your community.
The Invention of the Other
Directed by Bruno Jorge An intimate portrait of people who have never encountered an “other”. In 2019, FUNAI, a Brazilian state protection agency which works for Indigenous rights, sent an expedition of 30 people into the heart of the Amazon rainforest, to make first contact, provide medical services, locate and reunite separated family members with the Korubo, an isolated Indigenous group.Watch the trailerWatch it on VIFF 2023 (September 29 and October 01)
The Territory
Directed by Alex Pritz The Territory provides an immersive look at the fight of the Indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau people against the encroaching deforestation brought by farmers and illegal settlers in the Brazilian Amazon. With awe-inspiring cinematography, the film takes audiences into the Uru-eu-wau-wau community and provides unprecedented access to those illegally burning and clearing the protected Indigenous land.Watch the trailerProudly exhibited at DOXA 2022Available on Disney+
Stepping Softly on the Earth
Directed by Marcos Colon Stepping Softly on the Earth dives into the ruins that the predatory exploitation of resources has brought to the Amazon, and finds in the struggle of the Amazonian people and their ancestries, the horizons of surviving the chaos that we find ourselves in. The film listens to the survivors of a war against life to place Amazonian worldviews at the center of the world.Watch the trailerOfficial Selection of Seattle Latino Film Festival (from Oct 6th to 14th, 2023)
The bill "Lei Amazônia de Pé"
If you are a brazilian citizen, there is one extra and imporant way to support it, you can sign the bill purpose "Lei Amazônia de Pé".
The Bill Purpose
“Amazônia de Pé” is a bill that has the objective of fighting against climate crise through the protection of the Amazon rainforest. You can read the complete bill purpose here (portuguese only).
The Problem
There are around 5 million hectares - an area equivalent to 57 million soccer fields - of non designated forest in the Amazon.
The Solution
The “ Amazônia de Pé” bill proposes that these public forests are designated to Indigenous peoples, quilombolas, quilombolas, small-scale producers and new "Units of Nature Conservation for Sustainable Use, Environmental Protection Areas, and Extractive Reserves" (Unidades de Conservação da Natureza de Uso Sustentável, Áreas de Proteção Ambiental e Reservas Extrativistas).
This way they won't stop being public, but they will be protected by those who have historically proven to care for and protect the forest.
Who is doing it
More than 100 organizations and collectives from Brazil’s north to south have signed the “Lei Amazonia de Pe,” representing youth, scientists, Indigenous peoples, quilombolas, “movimentos campesinos” and movements for land agrarian reform. You can check out all of our supporters at amazoniadepe.org.br (portuguese only)
How will we do it
For the Brazilian people to propose a Bill to the National Congress, we need one million and half signatures (1% of the Brazilian electorate)
How we can help from here
If you are a Brazilian citizen you can sign the bill proposal. We are collecting signatures in Metro Vancouver and we will send them to Brazil to help to reach the goal of 1.5 million signatures. Here are a few ways to sign the bill living here:
Meet us in a public stand
September 4th - We will be collecting signatures at the Tropa Festival at the Trout Lake (2105 East 19th avenue Vancouver, BC V5N)
More dates and locations soon.
Contact us to find volunteers near your area
There are a few volunteers collecting signatures in their neighborhoods, contact us to find the volunteer closer to you: vancouver4amazon@gmail.com
Start your own signatures collection
If you live far from the areas with available volunteers you can start your own collection and be responsible to post in the mail to Brazil. Please check how to start your own signatures collection at colete.amazoniadepe.org.br (portuguese only).
FAQ
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Share online
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