A group of over a hundred indigenous people has been protesting at the Funai building in Altamira, Brazil, since February 23, demanding an end to a gold mining project in their region.
Since February 23, more than a hundred indigenous individuals have camped in protest at the headquarters of Funai (National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples) in Altamira, Pará. They are opposing the installation license granted to a gold mining project in the Volta Grande do Xingu area. The protest is led by the Indigenous Women's Movement of the Middle Xingu, emphasizing concerns over environmental degradation and the impacts on their communities. The Funai's involvement in the licensing process has also come under scrutiny, with protesters asserting that the agency has been negligent in representing indigenous voices.
The plan by the Canadian company Belo Sun to mine five tons of gold annually for at least 12 years is particularly controversial given that it targets one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in the Brazilian Amazon. The protest’s spokesperson, Sol Juruna, expressed deep frustration with Funai's inaction and reliance on the studies provided by Belo Sun, highlighting a perceived betrayal of trust. Protesters insist they will not leave until they see the mining license revoked, indicating a strong commitment to defending their land and rights.
Funai, in its defense, stated that it is in ongoing discussions with indigenous communities concerning their claims and is facilitating communication between them and Belo Sun. However, this communication strategy has not quelled the anger among the protesters, who feel their livelihoods and ancestral lands are under threat from industrial extraction activities. The protest underscores a broader tension between indigenous rights and economic development in Brazil, particularly regarding natural resource exploitation in sensitive ecosystems.
