A tour of the Indians of Brazil in New Aquitaine and Ile de France

Atia Pankararu during an evening organized by Attac, CRID and Other Brazil on November 15, 2022 at the CICP in Paris

Atia Pankararu, leader of the indigenous Pankararu community and Sebastian Gerlic President of the NGO Thydewa arrived in France for a fortnight until December 1st, they plan to participate in a number of events [1] during the Solidarity Festival in New Aquitaine and in Paris.

This Brazilian NGO has been in partnership with the House of Human Rights since 2005, it specializes in work to strengthen culture, education and the appropriation of information among indigenous communities in the Northeast of Brazil. before extending its action more widely to Brazil and South America.

The start of this tour is the time to ask them about the reasons for their visit through this interview:

When you arrive in France, where you will be working, what is the message you want to bring to Brazil?

Atia Pankararu: It is for us to show in the first place what is happening in Brazil, the famine which has spread considerably with the government of Bolsonaro has done nothing to stem the phenomenon. In this, the election of Lula brings hope that the situation will improve. The situation is still very worrying with deforestation in the Amazon which has dramatically accelerated, the killing of indigenous people in many regions and widespread predation on resources. I am a native of the Northeast and I can say that there is contempt from the government towards the natives who have been let down, particularly in terms of health and education, where nothing has been done for them. .

What do you expect from the audiences you will meet?

The peoples and authorities of the different countries of the world must be able to help protect the environment, fight against deforestation, safeguard biodiversity and the survival of animals, many species of which are threatened. During Bolsonaro’s four years, it is as if the country had regressed 40 years: human rights are no longer respected, the inhabitants are no longer respected. France and all of Europe should become aware of the damage to the environment, commit to a real pact to protect the environment and stop this process of predation linked to economic interests on the environment and the inhabitants. .

In recent weeks there have been various delegations from Brazil and in particular natives who have come to France and Europe. What is the more specific message that you came to bring?

All indigenous voices are important, it is essential to add our voice to other voices. The specificity of the NGO Thydewa is not to focus on the cause of the natives either, but aims to do a work of openness towards the other communities of Brazil and the other peoples of the world.

“Working for education in planetary consciousness”

It is not only a question of protecting the Amazon but also the whole planet, capitalism threatens the future of the world, it is therefore necessary more generally to work on education in planetary consciousness. If there are several ways to make these changes, we want to favor intercultural dialogue to move forward together. It must be understood that the exchange on the intellectual level is not enough: there is the importance of the head and there is also that of the heart and spirituality. For us, the use of culture and dance are important means for our action.

For 2022, the Solidarity Festival has decided to question this year on the involvement of young people, what elements would you like to bring?

The participation of young people in the festival of solidarity is important, there is the necessary awareness of what is happening, which must be done with young people. It is important that they can realize and feel how important it is to act to contribute to this change in the world. We also have a responsibility: How can we learn from the land if there is no more land? There is the importance of young people being able to get involved in the protection of the earth. Young people must play a leading role in these new changes. Indeed, adults are more and more overwhelmed by the rapidity of the changes that are underway, which pushes them to forms of traditionalism. In reality, young people have more awareness to think of actions to protect the planet. Young people have an important ability to appropriate the means of communication. They get involved in social movements, they know how to coordinate to act together and also seek to work with adults.

Is there an important element to add?

The world tends to ignore minorities, women, the poor, homosexuals, indigenous people… it is in minorities that the greatest wealth is found, the ideologies best suited to help change.

The public events of the tour:

In addition, the delegation will intervene and be present at various other meetings: Intervention at the Agricultural High School of Ahun in Creuse, in the training on transitions taking place in Pessac (Gironde) with the RADSI Nouvelle-Aquitaine. On November 15, they participated in a meeting on Brazil at the CICP in Paris organized by Others Brazil, Attac and the CRID.