Headlines articles
The 2009 edition of the World Social Forum (WSF) will be remembered for the largest mobilization of indigenous peoples in the history of the WSF. Belém do Pará will be the destiny for roughly three thousand members of indigenous groups from all over the world. Thanks to this significant presence, this WSF will witness the precious and remarkable heritage of indigenous cultures from around the world. As protagonists of many meetings and artistic events, they will present their distinct realities and demand a worldwide campaign in defence of planet Earth.
On Tuesday evening, 20 January, a delegation of Amazonian indigenous peoples, made up of the representatives of 18 tribes and 29 indigenous organisations, started travelling from Manaus to Belém by ship, which is the most traditional and widely-used transport in Amazonia. They are travelling together with a delegation of allied organisations from Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and Switzerland, including organisations such as the "Conselho Indigenista Missionário", "Cimi", "Secoya", "Xi´nichi do México" and the Indigenous University of Venezuela (UIV).
According to the general coordinator of the Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira (Coordination of indigenous organisations of Amazonia), Jecinaldo Barbosa, who is himself from the tribe Sateré Maué, the indigenous tribes at the WSF will "ask for a respectful attitude towards their territories, life style, self determination and the ethnic diversity of the countries from which they hail." This travel and the participation of the indigenous delegation at the WSF is a way of presenting the campaign: "Indigenous Peoples in Amazonia: Present and Future of mankind".
(Source: Fernando López)