Protecting Lands - Sustaining Lives

On May 5th, armed gunmen entered the Guajajara community of Anajá, and in the confusion a 5-year old girl was shot and killed. The shooting is the latest in a series of violent acts which have been inflicted on the Guajajara. Sonia Bone Guajajara (left), a Guajajara leader, attended the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples in New York a few weeks ago.Read Sonia’s response to the shooting and take action by sending a letter in Amnesty International’s campaign.

On May 5, 2008, ten indigenous people in Raposa Serra do Sol were attacked and shot at by a group of gunmen.This latest violence comes in the midst of a particularly tense situation in which a handful of powerful rice-growers refuse to leave, despite presidential ratification of the area. Read more.

This documentary chronicles the historic land rights case of the Maya of Southern Belize. It was directed by Gage & Gage Productions and produced in association with The University of Arizona 's Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program (IPLP). Watch the film.

Indigenous leaders from all over the world will be gathering in New York from April 21st to May 2nd for the Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Jim Anaya, former chair of RF US, will also address the Forum in his new role as incoming Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Issues. Read more.

Since April 15, 2005, when Raposa Serra do Sol (RSS) was ratified, indigenous communities have been waiting for the government to remove non-indigenous occupants, chief among them a small handful of powerful and politically-connected rice growers.
Click here to read more and to join in the international email campaign.

Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, president of Hutukara spoke to Rainforest Foundation US about the government’s proposed plans to allow mining within demarcated indigenous territory despite opposition from the communities. Read more.

In early February, several members of the isolated Tageri-Taromenae group were murdered by loggers who were illegally operating in their territory. Read more.

In late January, the Brazilian government released data on deforestation in the Amazon between August and December 2007. With the rising prices of cattle, soy, and other commodities, the deforestation rates are soaring once again. Read more.

In a recent decision, NYC Parks has committed to stop using tropical hardwoods for benches. Congratulations to our colleagues at Rainforest Relief for all their work on this campaign, and for bringing local action to bear on rainforest destruction. Read more.

We are very excited to offer the opportunity to support indigenous women of Roraima(OMIR)through the purchase of traditional necklaces and woven seed bracelets.