1st. National Indigenous Meeting/UNI

Time Spent Farming, Topic: Fight

28/04/1981

Footage of the final moments of the 1st National Indigenous Meeting, held in São Paulo in 1981. The new UNI (Union of the Indigenous Nations) board was elected at the meeting, with Marcos Terena as president and Álvaro Tukano as vice-president. A statement by Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, president of the S.Bernanrdo do Campo Metalworkers' Union, in which he talks about the lack of knowledge about indigenous peoples, the stereotyped view that people have of them and the need to bring workers and indigenous peoples closer together, joining forces in the struggle. Mário Juruna speaks. A brief statement from Sonia Braga (actress), who is present and is in solidarity with the struggle. Brief speeches by other indigenous people (without identification). Reading of the final document outlining the meeting's proposals: repudiating changes to the Indian Statute, which aims to take away the rights of communities by changing the definition of who is or isn't indigenous. Call for Brazilian society to support the struggle of indigenous peoples.support the struggle of indigenous peoples.

1st. Yanomami Leadership Meeting – tape 1

The Power of the Voices, Topic: Fight

15/03/1986

Material recorded in Demini village during the 1st Yanomami Leadership Meeting. Arrival of indigenous leaders invited: Paulo Paikâ Kayapó, Marcos Terena e Ailton Krenak. In this meeting with the participation of leaders from other peoples of Roraima, Makuxi and Wapichana representatives talk about the situation in the Yanomami areas and others, about the need for unity among the indigenous people, demarcation and the removal of invaders.

1st. Yanomami Leadership Meeting tape 2

The Power of the Voices, Topic: Fight

16/03/1986

Material recorded during the 1st Yanomami Leadership Meeting in Demini village. In this tape, several Tuxawas from distant villages in the territory make ceremonial speeches reporting on the situation in their areas where there is an invasion of miners, water pollution, rape, violence and disease. They say they want the land demarcated and the wildcat miners expelled. Davi Yanomami and another unidentified indigenous person translate from their mother tongue into Portuguese.

Account of Payaré Gavião and Programa de Indio on Guarani and Itaipu People

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

22/04/1989

Payaré Gavião speaks during the Altamira Meeting about the flooding of his land by the hydroelectric dam and problems with Eletronorte. The recording of Programa de Indio starts at 18’. Conversation between Ailton Krenak and Adriano and Teodoro, from the Guarani people who had their territory flooded by the Itaipu hydroelectric dam: the land situation, the struggle to take back their old land, lack of warning about the dam's construction. They talk about what the territory was like before the arrival of white people and how the Nhanderu are "reacting" to the things the whites are doing.

Account recorded by Davi Yanomami – wildcat mining and the relationship with the government

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

07/08/1989

Tape recorded and sent by Davi Yanomami in which he talks to other parentes (fellow indigenous people) about the situation in the Yanomami villages, about the invasion of gold miners, the value of the Land if it is taken care of, about the serious health situation, many deaths. About the governor of Roraima, Romero Jucá, former president of FUNAI, about his conversation with President Sarney and Bayma Denis who doesn't want to demarcate the territory. He explains that it is a lie that they want to create a new country with only Yanomami people. David asks why they are taking gold from his land. Música Yanomami.

Audience Álvaro Tukano and President of Funai

Weaving the Web, Topic: Fight

30/10/1984

Hearing to discuss the appointment of Álvaro Tukano to the Casa do Indio in Manaus, attended by Congressman Mario Juruna, the president of FUNAI and other unidentified attendees, featuring a clash between indigenous people and the federal agency over the role of FUNAI and its relationship with indigenous communities.

Constituent Assembly – interviews with leaders on Article 271

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

05/06/1988

Interviews with indigenous leaders on the Constituent Assembly vote conducted for Programa de Índio. Talks by: Roberto Otamina Cinta Larga; Paulo Bororo; Itabira Suruí; Henrique Cinta Larga; Moura Tukano; Dijiokó Guarani, Aruí; José Bandeira; Francisco Kaingang

Conversation with Fernandez Tikuna – resignation of teachers

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

22/04/1988

Alton Krenak talks to Fernandez Tikuna about the progress of the meetings with the Ministry of Culture and FUNAI about the dismissal of 5 Tikuna teachers and the education agreement. In the conversation, Fernandez exposes FUNAI's persecution of the General Organization of Tikuna Teachers, the strain that makes him want to abandon the fight.

Conversation with Native North American Lawyer and Interviews on the Constituent Vote

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

05/06/1988

Two different occasions on the same recording. In the first, we hear a presentation by Tim, a representative of the U.S. Center for the Legal Defense of Indigenous Populations, who talks about the work of the institution and offers to collaborate with legal assistance for Brazilian peoples. The second is a series of short interviews with leaders and politicians about the vote on the Constituent Assembly and the overturning of Article 271. Depoimentos de Alírio Tikuna, Atropi Cinta larga, Mário Juruna, Roberto Lenox.

Davi Yanomami and authorities talk about demarcation

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

19/04/1989

Official event on the demarcation of Yanomami Territory. Initial talk about the history of the territory by an unidentified individual. Davi Yanomami speaks in the presence of authorities about the importance of the territory and the threatening situation. He calls for action. Davi talks to authorities (probably the president of FUNAI) about the invasion of the Territory

Davi Yanomami talks on the phone – invasion in the area. Information on the election of indigenous people in the state of Acre.

The Power of the Voices, Topic: Fight

06/09/1987

Ailton Krenak interviews Davi Yanomami in a phone call from Roraima, denouncing the invasion of 10,000 miners and the destruction of nature. The serious health situation, the expulsion of the CCPY (Commission for the Creation of Yanomami Park) health team, the involvement of Roraima politicians who want the Yanomami to disappear. On the B side of the tape, the subject is the campaign strategy of Biraci Yawanawá, a PT (Workers’ Party) candidate for congressman in the National Constituent Assembly for Acre.

Hearing with Minister of Health on Yanomami people

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

12/04/1990

Davi Yanomami, Cláudia Andujar and Ailton Krenak spoke for 30 minutes with the Minister of Health (Alceni Guerra?), reporting on the chaotic health situation of the Yanomami people and presenting suggestions and ways forward. The Minister is receptive and says that he is setting up two working groups to deal with the issue of indigenous health in general and the Yanomami specifically. He says he accepts the collaboration of international organizations willing to provide resources for the health of the Yanomami

Indígenous Newspaper – Constituent Assembly – program 1

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

12/04/1988

This episode brings together news, reports, information and interviews on the Constituent Assembly and the indigenous question, an exposé of the history of violence against indigenous peoples and the struggle for rights in the National Constituent Assembly. Information on the actions of the Indian Protection Service and FUNAI. Davi Yanomami, Biraci Yawanawá and Reinaldo Tikuna report on the electoral process for the Constituent Assembly deputies. Presented by Ailton Krenak and Mauro Ferraz

Indígenous Newspaper – July 1989

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

07/06/1989

Jornal Indígena, presented by Ailton Krenak and Estevão Taukane, features the speeches of leaders from different regions of Brazil on the impacts of hydroelectric dam construction on their communities.

Indígenous Newspaper- Constituent Assembly – program 2

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

12/07/1988

The second issue of Jornal Indígena brings together news, reports, information and interviews on the Constituent Assembly and the indigenous affairs, with a presentation by Ailton Krenak and Eduardo Fortunato. This issue deals with the Indians in the Constituent Assembly, the SPI, FUNAI, and the electoral process for members of the National Constituent Assembly. Information on the bill on indigenous rights, and the pressure and struggle by various peoples in Brasilia. Information on laws, decrees and ordinances dealing with indigenous rights. Information on the "indigenous colonies" and the "acculturated Indian" in the design of the new constitution

International conference by telephone on Constituent Assembly

The Power of the Voices, Topic: Fight

10/06/1987

A pioneering initiative using telephony to bring together people from different continents. A conference organized by a US organization with national and international representatives on the new Brazilian constitution: Demarcation; Indigenous rights; Indigenous Struggles in the USA; Sensitizing public opinion and members of the constituent assembly; UNI's position; Environmental preservation; Yanomami Park

Interview with Ailton Krenak and Davi Yanomami for Rai – Italian Radio

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

01/03/1989

Interview with Ailton Krenak and Davi Yanomami, with translation by Carlo Zacquini. The interviewer, who speaks in Italian, reports on the activities of gold miners in the Yanomami indigenous land, highlighting the violence committed against these people. It also discusses the construction of dams on indigenous lands, the importance of the Altamira meeting and the international funding that would be used to carry out this work. Davi Yanomami explains one of his people’s beliefs. Ailton Krenak talks about the preservation of nature and the balance of the Earth. He emphasizes that human beings don't have the right to consume the planet and recounts his trip to the World Bank to discuss funding for projects like Kararaô.

Meeting of UNI coordinators – tape 1

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

04/03/1988

First day of the meeting of coordinators of the Union of Indigenous Nations (UNI) in São Paulo. Discussion on regional offices; UNI's work; mining on indigenous lands; Calha Norte Project; Indigenous colonies; training and legal defense center; project financing; international indigenous organizations; problems in the Rio Negro region

Meeting of UNI coordinators – tape 10

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

05/03/1988

Meeting of UNI (Union of the Indigenous Nations) coordinators. Discussion about a sudden protest in Brasilia against articles of the constitution concerning mining in indigenous areas, the question of colonies and emancipation. The meeting will discuss the organization of regional delegations and planning around the political act. A tense situation in Brasilia, risks for democracy and indigenous rights. Some participants tell us about the protests they took part in, both in their cities and in Brasilia.

Meeting of UNI coordinators – tape 11

Blazing trails, Topic: Fight

05/03/1988

Meeting of UNI (Union of the Indigenous Nations) coordinators. Apolônio Xocó talks about the work of UNI (Union of the Indigenous Nations) Nordeste, raising awareness in the communities about the struggle, the difficulties inherent in the organization's work in the region, and planning for 1988 and 1989. Ailton talks about the impossibility of saving FUNAI, which is a rotten organization. Moura Tukano talks about UNI's work in Amazonas, the links with an indigenous federation in Rio Negro and the need for alliances with other indigenous organizations, as well as projects to sell handicrafts. Ailton comments on the difficulties faced by UNI (Union of the Indigenous Nations) in setting up and maintaining regional offices and on establishing contact with international indigenous organizations (such as the Nordic Sami Council).

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Fight

Within this theme are audios about the indigenous presence in the National Constituent Assembly, indigenous assemblies held in the villages, the defense of rights and the movement’s articulation throughout the country.