Dear Jack,

At the end of 2022, we shared with you the crises facing many Indigenous and tribal peoples in Brazil. From the man described as the “Last of his tribe” to the Yanomami health emergency, many communities continue to face evictions, violence and theft of their land and resources. 

These tribal peoples need concerned citizens around the world to shine a light on their precarious situations and inspire action. By supporting Survival International in the past, you gave that crucial support through Survival. 

Here's how you helped:

Yanomami operation in Brazil

In recent years, with your support, we’ve worked hard to expose just how devastating the impact of illegal mining invasions on the Yanomami has been. Survival has been campaigning alongside the Yanomami for 53 years. We led the international campaign for the demarcation of the Yanomami territory, along with Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, and the Pro Yanomami Commission in Brazil, and we continue to call for justice for the Yanomami now.

Ibama agents destroy a plane and camp used by illegal gold miners in the Yanomami territory.
© Survival

This global attention helped ensure that the Yanomami were at the top of the agenda of incoming Brazilian President Lula, who denounced the violence they faced as genocide. Senior politicians in Brazil asked Survival to provide a dossier of international press coverage demonstrating global support. Then, at the beginning of February, Brazilian authorities launched an operation to remove these gold miners from Yanomami lands. While there is a long way to go, your support has been crucial to achieving this step.

At the Laranjeira Nhanderu retomada, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, January 2022. © Survival

Guarani retomada

In February, Guarani families in the Laranjeira Nhanderu community organized a retomada - reoccupation - of part of their ancestral territory. Decades ago, they had been driven out of their lands by agribusiness and other corporate interests, and the process to recognize their land rights stalled.

The retomada was far from easy. Military police, in cahoots with ranchers, fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the Guarani. With your ongoing support, Survival has been working with the Guarani for years to prevent land theft by lobbying politicians, ensuring international media attention, and putting pressure on companies like Shell’s joint venture Raizen, Coca Cola and Bunge to stop buying produce from these areas. Clara, one of the community leaders who was arrested, had this to say:

“It’s not easy, but those who don’t give up are often rewarded. The fight is always bitter, but victory is sweet. [...] When I was locked up in prison I thought about you a lot, you, who I love, you, my supporters… We trust Survival very much.”

"When I was locked up in prison I thought about you a lot, you, who I love, you, my supporters" Clara Barbosa of Laranjeira Nhanderu community was arrested for her resistance. © Survival

Land protection for uncontacted tribes in Brazil

During the Bolsonaro presidency, the Brazilian authorities had planned to scrap a vital safeguard for uncontacted tribes’ in Brazil – Land Protection Orders (LPOs). With your support, we worked with allies in Brazil to call for a renewal of several LPOs, including for the uncontacted Piripkura. 

We exposed political plots to steal Piripkura land, and presented evidence to the authorities. Thousands of you wrote emails to the Brazilian government or shared stories on social media, calling for the eviction of invaders and the protection of Piripkura land. In February, the Piripkura’s LPO was renewed.

Piripkura men Tamandua and Baita, photographed during an encounter with a FUNAI unit. The two men, who are nephew and uncle, have returned to live in the forest. © Bruno Jorge

In the last three months, Survival International and our partners were able to breathe a short sigh of relief as Bolsonaro left power in Brazil, and positive signs for Indigenous land rights emerged. But we and our supporters know: in the face of good news, we mustn't pause, but become bolder in our struggle for the rights of Indigenous and tribal peoples against the forces that threaten them.

Are you inspired by these victories? Consider making your first contribution and stand in solidarity with Indigenous and tribal peoples in South America and around the world here: donate.survivalinternational.org

Survival wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without financial support. We don’t accept funding from any governments, or from businesses that violate tribal peoples’ rights, so donations and campaigning are the force behind all our successes. 

Thank you for being there with us - for tribes, for nature, for all humanity.

With many thanks for your support,

Simonas Bartulis
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