The Kayapo & The Kayapo & REsistanceREsistancell

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Kayapó: Kayapó: History of EncroachmentHistory of EncroachmentBakairBakairíí YanomamiYanomami KayapóKayapó

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Penetration of KayapPenetration of Kayapó ó TerritoryTerritory

1800s rubber boom1800s rubber boom 1900-50: ½1900-50: ½ Kayapó died of diseases Kayapó died of diseases 1970s highways & settlement1970s highways & settlement 1980s mega-development projects1980s mega-development projects

Dams, mining, lumbering, ranching, Dams, mining, lumbering, ranching, agribusinessesagribusinesses

KayapKayapó rights to resources were not ó rights to resources were not recognizedrecognized

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600 mi.

Kayapo Reserve

Mine

Xikrin

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Damn Dams!Damn Dams! 1975: ELECTRONORTE surveyed 1975: ELECTRONORTE surveyed

Amazon for hydroelectric potentialAmazon for hydroelectric potential 1980 planned 6 dams on Xingu, 1 1980 planned 6 dams on Xingu, 1

on Iriri riverson Iriri rivers Tucuruí dam, built by Electronorte in the Tucuruí dam, built by Electronorte in the

1980s, displaced 40,000 people and 1980s, displaced 40,000 people and pushed them deeper into povertypushed them deeper into poverty

Submerged rotting vegetation from the Submerged rotting vegetation from the dam now contributes one-sixth of Brazil's dam now contributes one-sixth of Brazil's total greenhouse gas emissions total greenhouse gas emissions

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TucuruTucuruíí Dam Dam

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Kayapó: Out of the Kayapó: Out of the ForestForest

Illustrates Kayapó resistance and Illustrates Kayapó resistance and world-wide protest over the dam world-wide protest over the dam projectsprojects

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““Out of the Forest”Out of the Forest” 1989 Organized resistance of Kayapó to building of 1989 Organized resistance of Kayapó to building of

hydroelectric damshydroelectric dams Was a turning pointWas a turning point

Unprecedented: formed alliance among 28 nations, Unprecedented: formed alliance among 28 nations, with 3000 people—led by Paikanwith 3000 people—led by Paikan Traditional enemiesTraditional enemies Many had never left villagesMany had never left villages

600 traveled 400 mi. up Xingu to Altamira600 traveled 400 mi. up Xingu to Altamira Drew on tradition of militancyDrew on tradition of militancy Guerrilla theaterGuerrilla theater Sophisticated organization & use of technologySophisticated organization & use of technology

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1989: 2 Kayap1989: 2 Kayapó leaders & anthropolgist Darrell ó leaders & anthropolgist Darrell Posey went to Washington to lobby against the Posey went to Washington to lobby against the damsdams

On return to Brazil, were arrestedOn return to Brazil, were arrested Appeared in court in ceremonial dress, judge Appeared in court in ceremonial dress, judge

ordered to dress in shirt ordered to dress in shirt & pants& pants ““This is the way we dress for great solemnities”This is the way we dress for great solemnities” International protest led World Bank to International protest led World Bank to

suspend loans for the dams in the 1990ssuspend loans for the dams in the 1990s

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The Belo Monte Dam ComplexThe Belo Monte Dam Complex Today Brazil's electric company, Today Brazil's electric company,

Electronorte, is moving ahead with plans Electronorte, is moving ahead with plans to build the Belo Monte Dam, one of the to build the Belo Monte Dam, one of the world’s three largest dams, with a world’s three largest dams, with a capacity of equivalent to 8 nuclear plants capacity of equivalent to 8 nuclear plants

The cost of the dam is $3.8 billion and The cost of the dam is $3.8 billion and bids for the dam privatizedbids for the dam privatized

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Who Benefits?Who Benefits? G.E., Westinghouse supplied turbines, G.E., Westinghouse supplied turbines,

generatorsgenerators Aluminum smelters (Alcoa, Shell), mines, Aluminum smelters (Alcoa, Shell), mines,

MNCs are primary energy consumersMNCs are primary energy consumers Alcoa aluminum foundry will use most of Alcoa aluminum foundry will use most of

the energy to produce 800,000 tons of the energy to produce 800,000 tons of aluminum per yearaluminum per year

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ImpactImpact The Belo Monte reservoir will flood 400 square The Belo Monte reservoir will flood 400 square

kilometers of agricultural lands and forest and kilometers of agricultural lands and forest and will directly impact the reserve of indigenous will directly impact the reserve of indigenous people & part of the city of Altamirapeople & part of the city of Altamira

Thousands of families will be relocated, Thousands of families will be relocated, including 9 indigenous nationsincluding 9 indigenous nations

With the Altamira reservoir, it will flood 6140 With the Altamira reservoir, it will flood 6140 km including the Xingu Reservation km including the Xingu Reservation

Altamira will produce methane emissions that Altamira will produce methane emissions that contribute to global warmingcontribute to global warming

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What is the Current What is the Current Status?Status?

On May 30, 2003, On May 30, 2003, a court order put a a court order put a stop to work on the Belo Monte project stop to work on the Belo Monte project due to concerns about its impact on the due to concerns about its impact on the environmentenvironment

In 2005, the national congress rapidly In 2005, the national congress rapidly approved the projectapproved the project

President Lula da Silva presented a bill President Lula da Silva presented a bill that would reduce indigenous reserves that would reduce indigenous reserves by 1/3 of their present areaby 1/3 of their present area

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Brazilian Government’s Brazilian Government’s AssumptionsAssumptions

““Progress” – New sources of energyProgress” – New sources of energy Economic development for profitEconomic development for profit Indians seen as “primitive,” obstacles to Indians seen as “primitive,” obstacles to

developmentdevelopment(unilineal evolution)(unilineal evolution)

FUNAI policy: assimilation, a tool for FUNAI policy: assimilation, a tool for liberating Indigenous lands for whitesliberating Indigenous lands for whites

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The Brazilian government The Brazilian government considers indigenous peoples an considers indigenous peoples an

obstacle to developmentobstacle to development

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Kayapó View of Kayapó View of DevelopmentDevelopment

They were never consulted, treated like They were never consulted, treated like childrenchildren

Lack interest in profitLack interest in profit Lack concept of land as commodityLack concept of land as commodity Land is the condition for their continued Land is the condition for their continued

survivalsurvival

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Rainforest DestructionRainforest Destruction Note the contrast between indigenous Note the contrast between indigenous

resource management & outsidersresource management & outsiders Amazon rainforest Amazon rainforest = 40% world’s forests= 40% world’s forests

25% is now gone25% is now gone Irreversible changes to ecology & climateIrreversible changes to ecology & climate

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What will be left of the What will be left of the Xingu river for the people of Xingu river for the people of

Xingu?Xingu?--Dema--Dema