Indigenous movements in the Americas

I am going to change the whole format of this article by having a separate tab for the Indigenous rights movements particularly in Brazil.

I would provide information and direct links to these movements, and cite them.

There are also additional indigenous movements in Brazil that I plan on adding. The last time this page was updated was in 2008, so I will update the page to make it more relevant to today.

Indigenous Movements In Latin America

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Latin America is primarily known for their growing indigenous rights movement. Groups within countries have done work to publicize indigenous rights in their respective countries.

Trans-national Movements

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Transnational movements have helped publicize the indigenous rights movement in Latin America. Trans-national movements regarding indigenous rights could be seen as the whole being greater than the sum of its parts[1]. Many political related movements regarding the rights of indigenous peoples have took hold particularly in the 1990's due to "time and allies[2]." Political collaboration has been integral for the progress of indigenous peoples. Multilateral agencies and NGO's have been helping to increase leverage for indigenous peoples rights. The first Peruvian President of indigenous origin, Alejandro Toldeo, was elected in 2001[3]. This marked the first time that someone of Indian descent was the ruler since the 1930's. Transnational organizations have been credited for contributing to Cué's victory in Mexico[4]. The Front of Binational Organizations (FIOB), one of the most active indigenous organizations, is credited for this feat. Trans-national movements like the FIOB "represents a broad network of relationships, organizational structures, and cultural traditions[4]." Solidarity is one of the main attributes for the success of trans-national movements.

Global trans-national movements also influence regional movements. For example, after the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People[5] was passed, there has been progress made for the indigenous rights movement. Trans-national movements aim to enforce these policies through their work with domestic movements throughout the americas.

Transnational movements have shifted their focus towards environmental rights. As deforestation occurs in areas such as the Amazon, many movements aim to work in solidarity to bring these secondary issues to light. Amazon Watch is one non-governmental organization that aims to publicize the plight of deforestation in the Amazon in regards to the lives of indigenous peoples. Oil drilling is one issue that Amazon Watch fights against. A pipeline spill in the Peruvian Amazon highlights the plight of indigenous protests[6]. Five indigenous communities sought to remediate the polluted sites and compensation for damages to their land. This shift has helped to gain more awareness as environmental protection becomes more important in the rights for indigenous peoples. The Dakota Access Pipeline protests is one example of the fight for indigenous rights to sacred land in the United States. More than 40% of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe live below the poverty line[7] and this pipeline could negatively affect both the environment and well-being of the tribe.

Brazil

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Background

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Indigenous rights have largely been ignored throughout Brazil's history. They were considered "second-class citizens[8]" and much of their land was taken away for economic development. Brazilian is also historically known for the "physical and cultural extermination of the indigenous peoples[9]." However, the indigenous movement in Brazil has largely grown since the 1980's[8]. Although policies have been changed to include the rights of the indigenous peoples, it ignores the collective right to their land[9].

Cases
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The 2002 Xucuru case in Brazil highlights the role of the state in the struggle of present-day indigenous peoples in Brazil. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights was asked to safeguard Marcos de Araújo, after they received death threats regarding their right to indigenous land[10]. The state rejected this request because of various reasons. Much of the Indian rights movement in Brazil focus on right to land, and not individual liberties. Although indigenous tribes are marginalized and largely unrepresented in government, Brazil's Articulation of Indigenous People's have staged protests around major cities in Brazil to focus on fighting for territorial rights of the native peoples[11]. The result of this issue shows that "constitutional recognition of indigenous human rights and a multicultural and collectivist perspective does not eliminate the legal and political obstacles to implementing those rights[10]."

Brazil

  • Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB)
  • Coordinating Council of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations of Brazil (CAPOIB)[12]
  • Indianist Missionary Council (CIMI)
  • Indigenous Council of Roraima
  • Pro-Yanomami Commission (CCPY)
  • Union of Indigenous Nations of Acre and South of the Amazon (UNI-AC)
  • Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of the South Region - Arpin-South[13]

Indigenous peoples in Brazil

I am going to add movements underneath this article, to show more recent examples of indigenous rights being taken away.

I would also include the urbanization of these people and the resulting poverty that ensues.

The current page shows more about the history, but not about current issues surrounding the indigenous people in Brazil.

Indigenous Rights Movements

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Urban Rights Movement

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The urban rights movement is a recent development in the rights of indigenous peoples. Brazil has one of the highest income inequalities in the world[14], and much of that population includes indigenous tribes migrating toward urban areas both by choice and by displacement. Beyond the urban rights movement, studies have shown that the suicide risk among the indigenous population is 8.1 times higher than the non-indigenous population[15].

Many indigenous rights movements have been created through the meeting of many indigenous tribes in urban areas. For example, in Barcelos, an indigenous rights movement arose because of "local migratory circulation[16]." This is how many alliances form to create a stronger network for mobilization. Indigenous populations also living in urban areas have struggles regarding work. They are pressured into doing cheap labor[17]. Programs like Oxfam have been used to help indigenous people gain partnerships to begin grassroots movements[18]. Some of their projects overlap with environmental activism as well.

Many Brazilian youths are mobilizing through the increased social contact, since some indigenous tribes stay isolated while others adapt to the change[19]. Access to education also affects these youths, and therefore, more groups are mobilizing to fight for indigenous rights.

Environmental and Territorial Rights Movement

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Much of Indigenous tribes' rights parallel the environmental and territorial rights movement. Although indigenous people have gained 21% of the Brazilian Amazon as part of indigenous land, there are many issues still today that affect the sustainability of Indigenous territories today[20]. Environmentalists and indigenous peoples have been viewed as opponents to economic growth and barriers to development[21] due to the fact that much of the land that indigenous tribes live on could be used for development projects and more industrialization. Currently, 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to forest clearing and degradation. Deforestation for mining also affects the daily lives of indigenous tribes in Brazil[22]. The Munduruku Indians have higher levels of mercury poisoning due to gold production in the area[23]. Climate change is one issue that indigenous tribes attribute as a reason to keep their territory.

There are a lot alliances between indigenous peopls and conservation organizations in the Brazilian Amazon.The A'ukre Kayapo village and the Instituto SocioAmbiental (ISA) environmental organization is a good example of one of these alliances. They focus on environmental, education and developmental rights[24]. For example, Amazon Watch collaborates with various indigenous organizations in Brazil to fight for both territorial and environmental rights[25]. "Access to natural resources by indigenous and peasant communities in Brazil has been considerably less and much more insecure[26]," so activists focus on more traditional conservation efforts, and expanding territorial rights for indigenous people.

Territorial rights for the indigenous populations of Brazil largely fall under socio-economic issues. There have been violent conflicts regarding rights to land between the government and the indigenous population[27], and political rights have done little to stop them. There have been movements of the landless (MST) that helps keep land away from the elite living in Brazil[28].

Amazon Watch

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Campaigns in the Brazilian Amazon

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Amazon Watch has been focusing its efforts on the Brazilian Amazon, focusing then on the continuing deforestation that occurs throughout the country. The political climate in Brazil has previously been to preserve the environment, but sometimes development overshadowed this desire to save the rain forest[29]. Now, Amazon Watch is partnering with other indigenous tribes across the Amazon to defeat the fossil fuel industry[30].

Amazon Watch works closely to monitor the "Stop Dirty Dams" campaign. Amazon Watch uses social media as a platform to expose hydroelectric dams as bad for the environment, although it is considered "clean energy[31]."

15 Sources:

Legal dualism and the bipolar state: challenges to indigenoushuman rights in Brazil.

http://www.fundodireitoshumanos.org.br/projeto/articulacao-dos-povos-indigenas-da-regiao-sul-arpin-sul/

http://www.cimi.org.br/site/pt-br/?system=news&conteudo_id=7104&action=read

http://amazonwatch.org/news/2013/1001-massive-indigenous-rights-movement-launches-across-brazil

Peer Review: Shayan Amini

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You mention that this article was last updated/edited in 2008; however, when viewing its history tab ... there has been quite a lot of activity within the past 4-6 years. There is a possibility that I am misreading/misunderstanding your post. Additionally, adding a Brazil section with tangible overviews on the specific movements would be a great contribution. Since the deadline is sneaking up ... I suggest you start drafting these suggestions sooner than later.

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Indigenous peoples in Brazil

I agree that this article reads very similar to an outdated history textbook. Adding current issues and examples would provide a more complete outlook. I assume many are unaware of recent abuses these indigenous populations are experiencing at the hands of the Brazilian government and corporations... I know I was unaware before covering this unit.

Amazon Watch

Subsequent to reading this article, I agree with your intended edits and additions. Although a good overview is provided on the campaign so far, the article lacks intricate detail and categorical organization. I would love to know how you plan to organize (or possibly reorganize) the article... What are a few subcategories you plan to add?

You have compiled a solid list of sources and well on track to achieving the 30 mark! Again, I suggest you begin drafting your stated edits soon. (PS. I do apologize if drafts are posted elsewhere, possibly talk page, and I couldn't find them)

I am going to separate the topics to make it more specific and more organized.

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There will be more information about their activities in Brazil, and I will use notes from the lecture to incorporate real quotes by the founder of the amazon rights watch.

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Thank you Shayan, Thank you so much for the awesome feedback! I will take into account your suggestions! I have started my edits and I will post them soon.

Thank you.

  1. ^ "Indigenous People and Political Transnationalism: Globalization from below meets globalization from above?" (PDF).
  2. ^ Puig, Salvador Martí i (2010-01-01). "The Emergence of Indigenous Movements in Latin America and Their Impact on the Latin American Political Scene: Interpretive Tools at the Local and Global Levels". Latin American Perspectives. 37 (6): 74–92.
  3. ^ "The Challenges of The President of Peru, Alejandro Toledo". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  4. ^ a b "The Power of Transnational Organizing: Indigenous Migrant Politics in Oaxacalifornia". NACLA. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  5. ^ "Indigenous Rights in Latin America: The Gap between Doctrine and Reality". Human Rights and Human Welfare.
  6. ^ "Amazon Watch - Another Pipeline Spill Reported in Peruvian Amazon As Indigenous Protests Enter Eighth Week". Amazon Watch. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  7. ^ "The Dakota Pipeline Could Devastate Some of the Poorest People in America". Fortune. 2016-11-06. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  8. ^ a b TRAJECTORIES OF TRANSNATIONAL MOBILIZATION FOR INDIGENOUS RIGHTS IN BRAZIL.
  9. ^ a b "Legal Dualism and the Bipolar State". Latin American Perspectives. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  10. ^ a b "Legal Dualism and the Bipolar State". Latin American Perspectives. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  11. ^ "Amazon Watch - Massive Indigenous Rights Movement Launches Across Brazil". Amazon Watch. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  12. ^ WV. "CIMI - Conselho Indigenista Missionário". www.cimi.org.br. Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  13. ^ "Articulação dos Povos Indígenas da Região Sul – Arpin-Sul - Fundo Brasil". Fundo Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2016-11-16.
  14. ^ "Poverty Analysis - Brazil: Inequality and Economic Development in Brazil". web.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  15. ^ "Spatial-temporal trends and risk of suicide in Central Brazil: an ecologica...: Start Your Search!". eds.a.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  16. ^ Sobreiro, Thaissa. "Can urban migration contribute to rural resistance? Indigenous mobilization in the Middle Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil". The Journal of Peasant Studies. 42 (6): 1241–1261. doi:10.1080/03066150.2014.993624.
  17. ^ Migliazza, Ernest. The Integration of the Indigenous Peoples of the Territory of Roraima, Brazil.
  18. ^ Rocha, Jan. Brazil.
  19. ^ Virtanen, Pirjo. Indigenous Youth in Brazilian Amazonia: Changing Lived Worlds.
  20. ^ "The sustainability challenges of indigenous territories in Brazil's Amazoni...: Start Your Search!". eds.a.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  21. ^ Zhouri, Andréa (2010-09-01). ""Adverse Forces" in the Brazilian Amazon: Developmentalism Versus Environmentalism and Indigenous Rights". The Journal of Environment & Development. 19 (3): 252–273. doi:10.1177/1070496510378097. ISSN 1070-4965.
  22. ^ Paixao, Silvane; Hespanha, João P.; Ghawana, Tarun; Carneiro, Andrea F.T.; Zevenbergen, Jaap; Frederico, Lilian N. (2015-12-01). "Modeling indigenous tribes' land rights with ISO 19152 LADM: A case from Brazil". Land Use Policy. 49: 587–597. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.12.001. ISSN 0264-8377.
  23. ^ de Oliveira Santos, Elisabeth C.; Jesus, Iracina Maura de; Camara, Volney de M.; Brabo, Edilson; Loureiro, Edvaldo C. Brito; Mascarenhas, Artur; Weirich, Judith; Luiz, Ronir Ragio; Cleary, David (2002-10-01). "Mercury Exposure in Munduruku Indians from the Community of Sai Cinza, State of Pará, Brazil". Environmental Research. 90 (2): 98–103. doi:10.1006/enrs.2002.4389. ISSN 0013-9351.
  24. ^ Schwartzman, Stephan; Zimmerman, Barbara (2005-06-01). "Conservation Alliances with Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon". Conservation Biology. 19 (3): 721–727. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00695.x. ISSN 1523-1739.
  25. ^ Weik von Mossner, Alexa. Moving Environments: Affect, Emotion, Ecology, and Film.
  26. ^ Compensation for Environmental Services and Rural Communities.
  27. ^ Paixao, Silvane; Hespanha, João P.; Ghawana, Tarun; Carneiro, Andrea F.T.; Zevenbergen, Jaap; Frederico, Lilian N. (2015-12-01). "Modeling indigenous tribes' land rights with ISO 19152 LADM: A case from Brazil". Land Use Policy. 49: 587–597. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.12.001. ISSN 0264-8377.
  28. ^ "Law and Globalization from Below" (PDF).
  29. ^ Indigenous peoples and the natural environment of Brazil : hearing before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, second session, May 10, 1994. {{cite book}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 57 (help)
  30. ^ Energy, John J. Berger; Expert, Environmental Policy (2015-10-29). "Amazon Rainforest Defense Now Part Of Activists' Global Strategy To Defeat Fossil Fuel Industry". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-11-18. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
  31. ^ "The Amazon: Dirty dams, Dirty Politics and the Myth of Clean Energy". Journal of the Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America.