﻿It is important to emphasize
Since June 8, 2021,
indigenous people from different ethnic groups
have been protesting in Brasilia against Bill 490,
which opens up indigenous lands to predatory economic exploitation
and makes the demarcation of new lands impossible.
that several audiences have been requested
to the president of National Indian Foundation (FUNAI)
and there has been no response so far.
When we got here, around 3pm,
there was already a wall of police here in front of FUNAI.
We are forbidden to sing, to chant loudly
because they perceive this as a threat.
So much so that when the relatives started to sing a little louder,
they immediately raised their shields
as if we were going to attack them.
Never.
It is our prayer, it is our chant.
It is sacred. It is our voice, our protection.
And no president can take away our right.
We were received by the Supreme Court.
We were able to go to the Ministry of Justice.
We get inside.
And when we arrive at FUNAI we are barred.
Full of police.
Full of riot police.
And I wonder...
Where are they to confront the miners, the loggers,
the invaders that are there in our land?
What we have been asking for more than 500 years
is respect for our lands,
respect for our lives.
We didn't want to be here.
Leaving our children, our homes.
Leaving our lands that are being attacked by miners.
That are being attacked by loggers.
We don't want to be here now, in front of FUNAI,
being assaulted with rubber bullets and pepper spray.
We would like to stay on our sacred lands.
But we have to be here protesting
to defend our rights, to defend our existence.
And we will stay here as long as necessary.
Demarcation now!
We will not die in vain.
We will die fighting
for life and for the future of our people.