The meeting is the result of cooperation between Fenamad, Coiab, CPI-Acre and Opi
Indigenous experts, monitors and Manxineru ethno-environmental agents from the Mamoadate Indigenous Land in Brazil and Yine protection agents from the Diamante Native Community in Peru met to share experiences of the work they do to protect isolated indigenous peoples in their territories near the border between Brazil and Peru. The exchange took place between September 3 and 5, 2024, in Diamante, a community located in the Fitzcarrald District, Manu Province, in the Madre de Dios region of Peru.
The meeting had the support and collaboration of FENAMAD (Native Federation of the River Madre de Dios and Tributaries), the Coordination of Indigenous Organisations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), through the Isolated and Recently Contacted Indigenous Peoples Board (GPIIRC), the Pro-Indigenous Commission of Acre (CPI-Acre), the Observatory for the Human Rights of Isolated and Recently Contacted Indigenous Peoples (OPI). These organisations collaborate with indigenous movements, communities and civil society partners, as well as the Brazilian and Peruvian states, to strengthen the protection of isolated peoples in cross-border regions.
The Manxineru from the Extrema and Lago Novo villages in the Mamoadate Indigenous Land in Brazil were able to take a closer look at the work carried out by the protection agents at the surveillance posts in Alto Río Madre de Dios. The discussion revolved around possible contingency situations with groups of isolated indigenous people or “mistrustful”, as they are called by the Manxineru of Brazil, with the intention of outlining strategies, agreements and action protocols for the agents and communities involved.
As part of a strategy that began in 2022, Coiab and Fenamad arranged the first exchange that took place between May 24 and 26, 2022 in the Mamoadate Indigenous Land, in Acre, involving protection agents from the Extrema and Lago Novo villages. The aim was to prepare the communities for the possible approach of the Mashco-Piro, an isolated people, by sharing experiences about contact and community organisation. In 2024, this exchange dialogue will resume, reinforcing cooperation between the countries to strengthen protection strategies and rapprochement with these peoples.
In recent years, the residents of the Extrema and Lago Novo villages have reported that they are increasingly concerned about the growing proximity of isolated groups. “The work we do is to protect our mistrustful relatives. We don't want contact with them. We want to keep them the way they are. We prevent drug traffickers, loggers, fishermen and illegal hunters from bothering them. The people here in Peru already know how to deal with these contact situations so that there are no conflicts. Miscommunication with them can lead to conflict. They can get angry and attack with arrows. We're not fully prepared for this situation, and we don't want conflicts. These exchanges are important to prevent these situations from happening,” explains Maílson Manchineri, coordinator of the Extrema village monitors' collective.
The exchange was carried out following all the safety protocols and with the commitment to maintain the principle of no contact with the isolated peoples. During the meetings, dialogue between the teams strengthened joint action between the organisations and communities. In the end, commitments were made to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of actions to defend these peoples.
