Waimiri Atroaris Resist the Highway, Mining Company, Power Plant, Transmission Line, and Fight Against the Temporal Mark (Portuguese)

This story excerpt was translated from Portuguese. To read the original story in full, visit Folha de São Paulo. You may also view the original story on the Rainforest Journalism Fund website here. The RJF website is available in English, Spanish, bahasa Indonesia, French, and Portuguese.

Kinjas, as they call themselves, say that the measures adopted by the Bolsonaro government will limit the extension of the demarcation of the territory, determined by the Justice.

WAIMIRI ATROARI INDIGENOUS LAND (AM)—A three-dimensional sound invades the ears at the entrance to the Mynawa (pronounced munaua) village in the center of the Waimiri Atroari indigenous land. It comes from voices with distinct timbers, chants from different spaces, and footsteps marked on the ground by hundreds of men and women lined up in a human corridor. It is a cultural manifestation, in an unprecedented gathering and protest.

The kinjas (pronounced quinhás), as the indigenous people of the territory call themselves, are gathered for the first time for a discussion against the Temporal Milestone, a thesis embraced by President Jair Bolsonaro (PL)—to the point of suggesting that he would disregard any decision by the STF (Supreme Court) on the matter—and limiting the demarcation of indigenous lands.

There are about 700 kinjas, from 40 different villages, gathered for days in the Mynawa village—almost 30% of the 2,439 kinjas that live today in 74 villages. Folha was invited to accompany the meeting.

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