|
|
|
|
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
The Instituto de Desenvolvimento da Tadiçioes (IDETI) - www.ideti.org.br
Rua da Gloria, 474, Sao Paulo, Brasil, CEP 01510-0000, Brazil (55 11) 3277 7850, ideti@ideti.org.br
The Instituto de Desenvolvimento da Tadicioes is a non-profit non-governmental organization created and directed by indigenous leaders from different ethnicities, with the goal of rescuing, protecting and disseminating the cultures of Brazilian native peoples. Contact IDETI for an award-winning film and CD.
The work of IDETI is in response to the request from indigenous peoples to create alliances and is part of a broader strategy of native peoples who know that their physical and cultural survival depends on dialogue, exchange of knowledge, and conscious interaction with the modern globalized world, while still preserving the foundation of their traditional lifestyles.
Institute for Deep Ecology (IDE) -- www.deep-ecology.org
P.O. Box 1050, Occidental, California 95465, USA (707) 874-2347 o ide@igc.org
Founded in 1991, the Institute for Deep Ecology is committed to raising awareness of the destruction of natural systems and indigenous cultures, addressing the economic, technological and social practices that underlie the destructive elements of industrial society's excessive consumption, ecological
degradation, and environmental injustice. Over the past 10 years, IDE has brought together thousands of participants from at least 40 states and 16 countries to engage in transformative, action-oriented, and spiritually nurturing educational and leadership trainings.
The Cultural Conservancy (TCC) -- www.nativeland.org
|
|
|
 |
| their ancient traditions and directly depend on their natural environment for survival. The continuation of their performance rituals and ceremonies are essential to their way of life. |
Modern technological society is threatening the Xavante with the dangers of cultural assimilation and environmental
destruction. The Xavante fighting against the construction of dams, dredged canals and an industrial waterway that would lead to rampant resource extraction in one of world's most magnificent wildlife sanctuaries.
|
 |
The Xavante now face the threat of the Hidrovía Project, an industrial waterway blasted through rivers and wetlands to accommodate fleets of barges that would penetrate into the interior of Brazil to extract timber, gold and iron ore and clear hundreds of thousands of hectares to plant soy bean for export. The Xavante find themselves surrounded by a rapidly expanding agricultural and urban frontier and have decided to reach out to the international community for support.
Xavante have requested assistance to arrange for a cultural exchange involving a delegation from the indigenous rights and environmental movements, scholars, educators and the media. This project is an important international collaboration in solidarity with indigenous people threatened by the destructive impacts of globalization.
|
|
|
|
|
2003 Solidarity Delegation to Brazil
The Brazilian-based Instituto de Desenvolvimento da Tadicioes Indigenas (IDETI), The Institute for Deep Ecology (IDE), and The Cultural Conservancy (TCC) have come together to bring a rare opportunity to activists from North America to experience the depth of a culture which has maintained their traditions and lifestyle for thousands of years.
Upon returning, delegates and their sponsoring organizations will contribute to the efforts of the Xavante to protect their culture and their lands and help to arrange for Xavante representatives to visit the United States to speak for themselves.
To date, a number of organizations have expressed interest in sending a delegate to visit the Xavante in 2003. These include:
the North American-based Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Youth Alliance (INIYA),
International Rivers Network (IRN),
International Forum on Globalization (IFG)
the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Living, in a remote region of the interior, the Xavante have practiced hunting and gathering within the savannah and river systems for thousands of years. They were first contacted in the 1940s as part of a government sponsored effort to colonize the region and assimilate indigenous populations.
The Xavante were forced into exile and concentrated into small reserves with the intent to convert them into Christians and labor servants. Land was stolen through state-backed violence and fraud by federal officials, cattle ranchers, and landowners. Development intensified with industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure and transportation networks, that devastated native peoples with disease, dependency and tribal disintegration.
The Xavante have continuously resisted and mobilized to reclaim their land rights. They have refused to relocate, used direct action, and skillfully negotiated and pressured state officials to enlarge their reserves. |
|
