The Yanomami people live deep in the Amazonian rainforest. Since the Amazon has been first explored and colonized through its rivers, the Yanomami enjoyed partial isolation for a very long time which allowed them preserving their traditional way of living, in equilibrium with their surroundings. Their territory extends from the Orinoco River basin in southern Venezuela to the Amazon River basin in northern Brazil. In the early 21st century their number reaches approximatively 32.000 souls, from which at least 14.000 live in Brazil. Their territory is rich in mineral resources, which provoked since the mod-1970s the continuous illegal invasion of their land by garimperios gold–diggers. The violence and illnesses brought by the intruders led to the deaths of around 1,500 Yanomami people. In 1991, an area of some 93,240 square km is established as a Yanomami people’s reserve by the Federal government of Brazil. However it barely represents 30% of their ancestral territory. In spite of the legal demarcation there is no adequate protection program for the reserve borders so the presence of illegal miners even increased over the 90s decade. If adopted, the draft Mining Law on Indigenous Lands No.1610 would allow the legal entry of mining companies into indigenous territory. The application of that law would put the Yanomami peoples at further risk of land contamination and displacement since by 2013 their territory alone was subject to 654 mining requests. The Yanomami people kept mobilizing making their voice heard at national and international levels, notably through the Cultural Survival network. The National Committee to Defend Territories opposed the law but it was still debated by the Brazilian Federal legislators by 2014. The draft law No. 1610 is part of a larger proposal for several Constitutional Amendments and bills contributing to weakening indigenous’ defense of their lands’ rights. |
Illegal gold miners threat Yanomami peoples' livelihood. The Federal State appetite for the Amazon resources also places a constant burden on them.
| Name of conflict: | Illegal gold mining in indigenous Yanomami territory, Brazil |
| Country: | Brazil |
| State or province: | Roraima |
| Location of conflict: | Yanomami Territory |
| Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
| Project details | The area was initally invaded by 500 illegal miners. Their number keeps on increasing but no official data can enlighten the situation. |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 14.000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 07/2002 |
| Relevant government actors: | Government of Brazil, CIDH - USA, FUNAI - Brazil, Ministry of Mines and Energy - Brazil, Commission for the Defence of the Consumer, Environment and Minorities - Brazil, Federal Police - Brazil, Supreme Federal Tribunal - Brazil, State Governor of Roraima - Brazil |
| International and Finance Institutions | Inter-American Comission on Human Rights |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Amnesty International, CIMI - Brazil, Comision Nacional de Politica Indigenista (CNPI), National Commission for Indigenous Policy (CNPI), Survival International |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Artisanal miners Indigenous groups or traditional communities International ejos Local ejos |
| Forms of mobilization: | Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Official complaint letters and petitions Arguments for the rights of mother nature |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Desertification/Drought, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality Potential: Waste overflow, Oil spills, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Malnutrition, Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Violence related health impacts (homicides, rape, etc..), Occupational disease and accidents, Infectious diseases, Deaths, Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Loss of livelihood, Militarization and increased police presence, Violations of human rights Potential: Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures |
| Project Status | In operation |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Deaths, Assassinations, Murders Land demarcation Court decision (victory for environmental justice) Migration/displacement New legislation Application of existing regulations |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | they want their land to be respected, having all of the miners away from it, in order to have it less polluted and their population to be less infected and more protected. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | The territory of the indigenous people is not being respected in spite of the demand of the Inter-American Comission on Human Rights and the pledges of the community. Due to this, many are being killed or are dying in consequence of the destruction of their habitat. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Contributor: | Lucie Greyl & Camila Rolando Mazzuca |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 522 |