Author: Thomas Hamre

Indigenous Rights Clinic

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

AmazoniAlerta, in partnership with the Legal Department of Coiab – Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon, have launched the Indigenous Rights Clinic – a program providing ongoing legal training in Indigenous Law for Indigenous lawyers in Brazil.

The initiative is a response to the significant unfulfilled demand for lawyers specialized in Indigenous Law from Indigenous rights organisations, NGOs and public institutions in Brazil.

As Lucas Cravo de Oliveira, a lawyer from AmazoniAlerta who coordinates the training explains, “Brazilian law schools do not teach Indigenous law as a subject and there are only a few, taught specialised courses available. In other words, this means that the discipline of Indigenous law is learnt through practice. Our program aims to support the skills and knowledge of practicing Indigenous rights lawyers.”

Using actual legal cases, whether widely known or not, as case studies, Lucas discusses the fundamentals and strategies of Indigenous Law biweekly with a group of young Indigenous lawyers connected to Coiab and AmazoniAlerta.

 

Urgent: First Expedition Reveals Alarming Invasion in the Uru Eu Wau Wau Indigenous Territory

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

In a groundbreaking effort to protect Indigenous lands, we recently conducted our first expedition in the Uru Eu Wau Wau Indigenous Territory, Brazil, in partnership with the Association of Indigenous Peoples of Amondawa (APIA). This expedition marks a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to monitor and defend these sacred territories. Unfortunately, the findings from our journey are deeply concerning and highlight the urgent need for continued vigilance and action.

Our team, comprising members of AmazoniAlerta, APIA, the National Indigenous Foundation (FUNAI), and the Environmental Police Battalion (BPA), embarked on this critical mission from May 9 to May 20, 2024. The primary objective was to monitor and document any illegal activities threatening the integrity of the Indigenous lands and to gather evidence that could be used to safeguard these areas.

Disturbing Discoveries

As we navigated the extensive areas of the Urupá River and the Serra da Porta, we uncovered several illicit activities:

  1. Abandoned Invader Camps: We encountered multiple camps used by invaders. These sites were littered with debris, including plastic waste, empty bottles, and spent ammunition cartridges, indicating recent human activity.
  2. Illegal Hunting: Signs of illegal hunting were rampant. We found animals, specifically wild pigs, trapped using hooks. Poachers had left these hooks, posing a significant threat to the local wildlife. The trapped animals were removed, and the traps were dismantled to prevent further harm.
  3. Illegal Mining Operations: Perhaps the most alarming discovery was the presence of illegal mining activities. We identified areas where miners had set up operations, clearly violating the protections afforded to the Indigenous territory. The environmental damage caused by these activities was evident, with disrupted land and contaminated water sources.

Our legal team is compiling comprehensive reports based on our findings. These reports will be submitted to the relevant authorities, including local and federal law enforcement agencies, to ensure appropriate actions are taken to address these violations. We are committed to working closely with the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and to prevent further encroachment on Indigenous lands.

This expedition underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting the rights and territories of Indigenous peoples. The alarming discoveries made during our journey highlight the critical need for ongoing monitoring and intervention. We will continue to defend these lands, support the Indigenous communities, and raise awareness about the threats they face.

How You Can Help

The work of our team in the Uru Eu Wau Wau Indigenous Territory is only possible thanks to the Rainforest Fund, but much more can be done with your help.

Your support is crucial in our fight to protect Indigenous territories. Your donations help us fund expeditions, legal actions, and advocacy work to protect Indigenous lands and rights. Consider contributing today to support our mission. We can ensure that the Uru Eu Wau Wau Indigenous Territory and other vulnerable areas are safeguarded for future generations. 

Contact Nick Hackworth about donations: nick@amazonialerta.org

 

AmazoniAlerta and Coapima sign cooperation agreement to defend the rights of indigenous peoples in Maranhão

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

The Coordination of Organisations and Articulations of the Indigenous Peoples of Maranhão (Coapima) and AmazoniAlerta sign a cooperation agreement to strengthen advocacy in favour of the Indigenous Peoples in the state of Maranhão.

The cooperation aims to join efforts on priority issues, including territorial monitoring and the collection and qualification of information for advocacy.

Meet Jocivaldo Guajajara, AmazoniAlerta’s first intern

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

Jocivaldo Guajajara is the first recipient of AmazoniAlerta’s bursary for Indigenous law students and a dedicated intern making impactful strides in Indigenous law.

Why This Matters?

Having Jocivaldo on our team is a significant milestone. His presence and work underscore the importance of Indigenous representation in the legal field. As a third-year law student at UniBras College in Santa Inês, Maranhão, Jocivaldo brings a unique perspective and invaluable insights to our efforts in land rights and territorial protection.

Jocivaldo’s Journey with AmazoniAlerta:
🔹Research & Analysis: Conducted crucial research on the status of laws and state decrees in Pará, enhancing our legal strategies.
🔹Collaboration & Learning: Actively participated in key meetings and training sessions, including the Indigenous Monitoring Agent training, where he engaged with various Indigenous communities and developed vital monitoring tools.
🔹Advocacy & Communication: Drafted important communications to federal authorities, highlighting issues in Indigenous territories and advocating for necessary support and resources.

 

We are proud to have Jocivaldo as part of the AmazoniAlerta team. His efforts are a testament to the power of inclusive and diverse perspectives in driving meaningful change. Let’s support and celebrate the invaluable contributions of Indigenous legal professionals like Jocivaldo in our collective mission to protect the Amazon and uphold Indigenous rights.

Introducing AmazoniAlerta’s second team of Environmental Guardians

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

Formed from members of the Amondawa community  from the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Indigenous Territory, the team operates in collaboration with FUNAI to patrol and monitor the territory, gathering evidence of illegal land grabs and illegal deforestation. Our in-house legal team uses this evidence to lobby law enforcement for action and advocate for the community in multiple legal processes.

We are proud to be working with the Amondawa in the defence of their beautiful homeland.

Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Indigenous land is located in the state of Rondônia, Brazil and is situated at the western limit of the so-called ‘Arc of Deforestation’ (scroll for map from 2015) that describes the advancing front line of agricultural-led deforestation of the Amazon.

This is one of many key ‘frontlines’ in the struggle to preserve the rainforest.

AmazoniAlerta contributes to IACHR investigation in Araribóia

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

AmazoniAlerta is proud to be supporting the successful appeal made by APIB and COAPIMA for a precautionary measure from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR), demanding the Brazilian government the guarantee of rights to the Guajajara and Awá indigenous peoples, from the Araribóia Indigenous Land. AmazoniAlerta is contributing with evidence gathered by its Environmental Agents.

The request argues that the Guajajara and Awá peoples are vulnerable and at risk from COVID-19, and that the state is failing to provide acceptable access to healthcare and failing to protect their territories from illegal invasion and, in particular, the isolation of the Awá people.

The IACHR is an autonomous institution of the Organisation of American States (OAS), that promotes the observance of human rights in the States that signed the American Convention on Human Rights. Precautionary measures are requests to a State to protect one or more persons who are at serious risk of suffering irreparable harm.

Introducing AmazoniAlerta’s first team of Environmental Agents

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

We proudly announce the launch of our first team of AmazoniAlerta Environmental Agents operating within the Brazilian Amazon.

The team, formed from members of Indigenous and traditional communities, patrols & monitors areas that are vulnerable to illegal invasion, exploitation and deforestation.

Expeditions aim to: 1. Deter invaders. 2. Initiate legal action against illegal deforestation and violations of Indigenous lands by identifying criminal activity, gathering evidence and lobbying law enforcement to take action.



The team is supported by AmazoniAlerta’s expert Indigenous rights lawyers.

Despite constant invasions Indigenous lands are the least degraded within the Amazon. AmazoniAlertra empowers traditional communities in the defense of their lands and the rainforest.

AmazoniAlerta receives a grant from the Rainforest Fund (UK)

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

AmazoniAlerta is pleased to announce that we have received a grant from the Rainforest Fund (UK) to fund our work in 2023 with traditional peoples and communities in the Brazilian Amazon to advance the legal defense of their lands and rights and help protect the Amazon Rainforest. Our thanks to @rainforest_fund

Founded in 1989 The Rainforest Fund funds programs and projects aimed at supporting Indigenous Peoples and traditional populations of the rainforests to assert their rights, to promote a sustainable development of their communities and to challenge governmental practices that have a damaging effect on their environment. Over more than 30 years of work, Rainforest Fund has partnered with Indigenous communities on approximately 300 multi-year projects in over 20 countries, with a particular focus on human rights of Indigenous Peoples and their battles against the illegal loggers, settlers, mining, and oil interests.

Image @victormoriyama

Inside the Indigenous fight to save the Amazon.

Posted on by Thomas Hamre

In this Vice documentary from 2021, AmazoniAlerta is featured in a segment that begins after three minutes.

The documentary is about the indigenous-led protest in September of 2021, when more than 6,000 people rallied at Brazil’s Supreme Court against Marco Temporal.

Marco Temporal is a legal thesis defended by the Brazilian agroindustry that proposes that only territories occupied by indigenous peoples on October 5, 1988, date of enactment of the Brazilian Constitution, may be legally acknowledged and demarcated.

Watch here >>>