"It is not an easy task to deal with gunmen
and recover what we have lost. We have
to hide in order not to die young."

The Pataxó of the south tip of the state of Bahia staged a large demonstration on August 19 to celebrate the third anniversary of the reoccupation of the Pascoal Mount, which they claim as a traditional indigenous land, the first anniversary of the building of the Resistance Monument, a symbol of the indigenous struggle in Brazil, recent land reoccupation actions, and the creation of the Pataxó Struggle and Resistance Front.

About 350 indigenous people representing eight Pataxó villages took part in the demonstration. Allies from various movements and entities that support the struggle of the Pataxó, among which Cimi, ANAI-Bahia, Cese, the Office of the Attorney General, the Union of Bank Employees, the Teacher's Association, the Terra Viva organization, Funai and different churches also took part in the demonstration.

The celebrations began with a ritual prayer, the toré dance, and chants of the Pataxó and Maxakali. Representatives of the Cahy village carried a large banner with the words "We Will Advance."

The demonstration was coordinated by chief Joel Braz, who described the challenges posed by the organized actions of gunmen hired by farmers who invaded indigenous lands. "It is not an easy task to deal with gunmen and recover what we have lost. We have to hide in order not to die young," said Joel, aware of the risks he faces for his courage and determination to fight for the territory of his people.

When a car of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) passed by, the demonstrators became outraged. Ibama does not recognize the right of the Pataxó to the Pascoal Mount indigenous land and wants it to continue to be an environmental preservation area.

The speeches delivered by the allies of the Pataxó were marked by words of solidarity to their struggle and rejection of the maneuvers of Ibama. "Ibama's plans to appoint a new manager to the area are preposterous... You should not allow people like Ibama's officials to come here... The Pataxó should expel all intruders from this area," said Guga, of the ANAI organization of Bahia.

Jeferson, from the Terra Viva organization, said: "Your struggle has a remarkable meaning for all the indigenous peoples of Brazil (...). Your enemies are still very active. They gave up their old strategy of giving you mirrors and knives and now they are offering you salaries, a car, a house.... The shared management scheme they are proposing is a scam. We support the position of the Resistance Front of saying no to Ibama".

Cimi's executive secretary, Egon Heck, reiterated the full support and solidarity of the entity to the struggle of the Pataxó, "who have become a symbol of hope for indigenous peoples and for all those who are fighting to change this country."

Funai's regional administrator, Sandro, criticized the attempts of Ibama to divide the indigenous people. "The fight is not over, it is just beginning," Sandro said.

The leaders of the Pataxó people delivered courageous and firm speeches. Dio, the chief of the Corumbauzinho village, warned Ibama's officials "not to try to stop indigenous people from doing what they have to do. The fight has begun now and will not stop here."

Lídio Matari, chief of the Piqui village, asked the demonstrators to support the Pataxó in their efforts to defend themselves from gunmen and reoccupy their land. "I have received death threats, we are suffering. But I am happy now, because we will be able to rely on the help from our relatives."

Chief Timborana, from the Cahy village, spoke about the suffering that indigenous people are experiencing at the Cumuruxativa camp as they get ready to reoccupy their lands. "I have been threatened by gunmen and bandits. But we have our father Tupã, who will not let us die. We should support our relatives who reoccupied the Piqui land. If we have to fight physically, we will, if we have to die together, so be it!"

Joselito, another leader, derided the Pataxó who signed Ibama's proposal for the "shared management" of the Pascoal Mount in April. "We should not accept any shady proposals. In the past, they cheated our people with red ribbons and mirrors; today, they try to cheat us jobs, a car and a furnished house."

The women also delivered speeches. Marlene Pataxó said that the struggle of her people is not a men's affair only. "It is not only the men who have a voice. We also have one. I am the mother of 13 children and we will not allow others to come here again. We kicked Ibama out. Why would we allow an enemy inside our house now? This land is ours, we have the right to be here. We are willing to die before we give up. Every time an indigenous person dies, our fight grows!"

Maria Lica, another Pataxó woman who is the mother of five children, one of which is still an infant, called on the Pataxó to unite after reporting that gunmen had once tried to prevent her from cooking for her children "We don't want no barren land. You expelled us from the forest and now you want to give us back a land that is barren!", she angrily shouted to the gunmen, referring to the environmental degradation caused by farmers.

At the end of the demonstration, the Pataxó issued a manifesto reiterating that the Pascoal Mount "was, is and will always be the land of the Pataxó" and asking the Brazilian Government "to demarcate the Pataxó territory."

This material was published by Cimi, Indianist Missionary Council

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