Munduruku Consultation Protocol
Prepared by the Munduruku, gathered at the village of Waro Apompu, Munduruku
Indigenous Land, on the 24th and 25th of September 2014, and in the village of Praia
do Mangue, on the 29th and 30th of September 2014. This document has been
approved in Extraordinary Assembly by the Munduruku people in the village of Sai
Cinza, on the 13th and 14th of December 2014.
We, the Munduruku people, want to listen to what the government has to say to us.
But we do not want made-up information. In order for the Munduruku people to be
able to decide, we need to know what is, in fact, happening. And the government
needs to listen to us. Before initiating the consultation, we demand the demarcation of
the Indigenous Land of Sawré Muybu. We know that the report is ready. We have the
video from FUNAI’s Presidency admitting that the demarcation has not occured due
to [plans for] the hydroelectric dam. The government is not acting in accordance to
the good faith required for the consultation (Convention no. 169, Article 6). We will
never accept to be moved [from our land]. And we know that the Constitution is on
our side! We also demand that the government protect relatives [living in voluntary
isolation] in our land and guarantee the right to consultation to the other peoples
affected by their projects, such as the Apiaká and the Kayabi. And, finally, we
demand that the riverside communities, which will be affected by dams on the
Tapajós River (such as Montanha e Mangabal, Pimental e São Luiz) have their right
to consultation guaranteed, in an adequate manner that is specific to their reality. Like
us, the riverside communities also have the right to their own consultation.
Who should be consulted?
The Munduruku from all villages – from the high, medium and low Tapajós - should
be consulted, including the ones from villages located in indigenous lands not yet
demarcated. We do not want to be considered by the government as divided: there is
only one Munduruku people. The wise elders, the pajé [spiritual leaders], those who
know how to tell stories, those who know traditional medicines, roots, leaves, those
who know about the sacred places, should be consulted.
The chiefs, male and female warriors and the leaderships should also be consulted. It
is the chiefs, who articulate between themselves and circulate the information to all
villages. These are the ones who gather everyone to discuss what should be done. The
male and female warriors help the chief, accompany him and protect our territory.
The leaders are the teachers and health agents who work with the entire community.
The women should also be consulted in order to share their experience and
information. There are women who are pajés, midwives and artisans. They take care
of the fields, provide ideas, prepare the food, make home remedies, and possess a lot
of traditional knowledge.
The university students, Munduruku pedagogues, Ibaorebu [Munduruku education
project] students, and the young people and children should also be consulted as they
are the generation of the future. Many young people have access to the media, read
the newspaper, have access to the internet, speak Portuguese, are aware of reality and
actively participate in our people’s struggle.