A recent report from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) reveals the existence of 119 indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation in the country, also known as free peoples. Of these, 37 are located in unprotected territories, exposing them to constant threats that endanger their survival.
These groups, who avoid contact with other communities due to past experiences of violence, were documented in a study conducted by the Free Peoples Support Team (Eapil) of the Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi). The information is contained in the book Free/Isolated Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon and the Gran Chaco, which emphasizes the urgency of measures to ensure their safety and preserve their way of life.
The report highlights that many of these peoples inhabit border regions, making international cooperation essential for their protection. Guenter Francisco Loebens, a missionary of Cimi and co-organizer of the study, emphasized the need for a joint effort among neighboring countries to design adequate strategies to safeguard these communities.
Daniel Aristizabal, secretary of the International Working Group for the Protection of Isolated and Initial Contact Indigenous Peoples (IWG-PIACI), welcomed the publication of the report and emphasized its importance in raising awareness of the situation of these peoples in Latin America and other parts of the world. “Our dream is that they can continue living according to their own decisions,” said Aristizabal, highlighting that these communities represent one of the last resistances against colonization and the expansion of activities that threaten their existence.
The Importance of Indigenous Peoples
The study conducted by Eapil also warns about the risks facing these peoples, such as deforestation, the invasion of their lands by illegal activities, and the expansion of extractive projects. Faced with this scenario, experts and activists reiterate the importance of implementing effective public policies to guarantee the protection of their territories and respect for their self-determination.
The importance of these peoples is as fundamental as their role in nature. For many indigenous communities, nature is not just a resource, but an extension of their cultural and spiritual identity. Their territories are spaces where relationships of reciprocity and respect intertwine. This approach contrasts with the Western view, which tends to separate culture from nature and apply conservation models based solely on biological science.
Numerous studies have shown that the best-preserved ecosystems in the world coincide with indigenous territories. In the Chaco, for example, indigenous peoples have maintained biodiversity through their hunting, gathering, and water management practices. Despite this, many conservation policies excluded these communities, even displacing them from their lands for the creation of protected areas.
Source: La Nueva.
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