Deni statement on demarcation
The deni have been waiting almost 20 years for the Brazilian
government to demarcate their indigenous territory, they don't
want to wait any longer.
The Deni Indians live in a remote area of the Amazon rainforest.
With a population of little over 600 people, and little contact
with the outside world, the forest is their home and source of
livelihood.
But an area where the Deni live was being bought and sold, and
slated for destruction without their knowledge, until now. The
Deni are taking the future of their territory into their own hands
and will begin the physical demarcation of their land in September
to protect it from logging and further development.
Letter from the Samauma Village, 12 February 2001, Cuniua
River, Itamarati, Amazonas State:
We are learning to demarcate our land. A long time ago the
FUNAI (Fundação Nacional do Índio) promised to do the demarcation.
Deni's son was a little boy then, now he is a grown up man and
still FUNAI haven't demarcated our land.
We are still waiting.
We want to demarcate our land.
The land of Apurina people was already demarcated.
The land of Paumari people was already demarcated.
The land of Jarauwara people was already demarcated.
Suruaha people have demarcated their land. All of the populations
of our region have already demarcated their own land.
We are the only ones who are left.
Now we want to demarcate our land, this year 2001.
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The
Deni often sign documents using their thumb prints or the
prints of their children's feet. |
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