In defense of the rights of its people

An indigenous woman in Brazil takes over the leadership of her tribe

• Indigenous women in Brazil participate in the protection of tribal resources.

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Society often excludes indigenous women in Brazil from taking on leadership roles in the tribe, which are often held by males.

However, these roles have changed in recent years with the escalation of threats to the lands and natural resources of indigenous peoples.

Women have broken down barriers and become leaders on the front lines of the battle against deforestation, mining activities and worsening climate disasters.

Kyayapo Bayacan is one of these women, belonging to the Kayapo tribe in Brazil. Her father, Paulino Bayacan, was a leader of the tribe before his death last year after contracting “Covid-19.” This 38-year-old woman took the lead and continued her father’s legacy as one of the greatest pioneers. Indigenous environmental movement in Brazil.

Indigenous women have always remained strong, Payakan says, and as climate and environmental threats mount, they have freed themselves from the confines of their homes to attend college and find their voice in traditionally male-dominated sites.

"Kayapo women have always been brave fighters, from whom children derive the meaning of resistance, and they have always been part of the resistance alongside men," she added.

Since becoming a chieftain, the Payakan has been working hard to understand the legalities of protecting indigenous lands, and how to confront power structures that oppose their rights.

She set up an educational institution for tribal women to participate in this activity and learn more about politics and the environmental threats they face.

"Women build culture, and older women have a very important role in preserving the oral history they pass on to children, so that we don't forget our language and culture," she says.

She also says that "women gather to talk about these issues alongside the tribal chiefs, and take decisions with them to coordinate local communities, and they are part of the political space where these issues are discussed."

While environmental threats are not new in the Amazon, the rise of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's right-wing government has spurred industrial development from oil and gas exploration, logging, and mining.

These activities have penetrated deep into indigenous areas, where trees have been cleared in search of investment.

The Bolsonaro administration and the Brazilian Congress have agreed with the agribusiness, mining and timber companies to introduce a bill known as the "time frame", which states that the right of indigenous peoples to the land will only be recognized if they can prove that they have resided there since 1988, the year the rights of indigenous peoples to the land will be recognized. The adoption of the latest Brazilian constitution.

Consider the objections

While Brazil's Supreme Court considers objections to the bill, the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Francisco Calle Tzai, says passing the bill "would deal justice a painful blow."

"If the Supreme Court accepts the so-called (timeframe) on demarcation of land later this month, it could legitimize violence against indigenous peoples, and that would fuel conflicts in the Amazon rainforest and other regions."

Payacán says the law is "a derogation from the rights of indigenous peoples, and it gives the Brazilian government the right to enter our lands without our permission."

She added, "It is as if we are not present on our lands, and as if we are not present in this country, but we are aware of this and are constantly preparing for it, and we are following up on everything that is happening regarding the draft law."

Alessandra Corab, a 37-year-old member of the Brazilian Monduruco tribe, says indigenous peoples are losing their lands little by little, affecting fishing resources and the lack of palm fronds.

Before that, she says, she wanted to do something to support her tribe, but as a woman her mother warned her against joining the male-dominated tribal meetings.

But in 2015, Korap said she broke with tradition, joined councils of chieftains, and spoke out about her concerns about public officials and businesses.

She says she participated in meetings outside her village, and protested against the demarcation of their lands as well as the government infrastructure that they consider dangerous to their areas.

• Indigenous women have always been strong, and as climate and environmental threats intensify, they have freed themselves from the shackles of their homes to attend college, finding their voice in traditionally men's positions.

• The Bolsonaro administration and the Brazilian Congress have agreed with the agribusiness, mining and timber companies sectors to introduce a bill known as the “time frame”, which states that the right of indigenous peoples to the land will only be recognized if they can prove their residence there since 1988, the year in which In it the most recent Brazilian constitution was adopted.

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