Leader of Yanomami tribe and documentary filmmaker share their thoughts with Anadolu on effects of illegal mining on region, people in Yanomami territories - Anadolu Ajansı
Environmental devastation caused by illegal gold mining in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is causing children of the indigenous Yanomami tribe to die from malaria and malnutrition.
Speaking to Anadolu, Junior Hekurari Yanomami, the leader of the Yanomami tribe, and Gabriel Chaim, a documentary filmmaker and photographer specializing in illegal mining in the Amazon rainforest, discussed the effects of underground mining on children in Yanomami territories.
Hekurari Yanomami said the significant increase in illegal mining in Yanomami territories since late 2018 has been "a great invasion" with severe consequences for the indigenous communities.
He said that during this period, "the Yanomami indigenous land suffered a great invasion (by those) in search of gold. Yanomami indigenous lands were razed up to the source of the Amajari River and up to the Uraricoera River. Those rivers were destroyed by gold seekers in the Homoxi, Xitei, Tirei, Parima and Uraricoera communities."
He also referred to the miners as "invaders" and highlighted the adverse effects on the community, particularly in terms of malnutrition and the spread of malaria.
Hekurari Yanomami said many illegal miners entered the communities and extracted tons of gold, which they took with them. In turn, they left many problems for the Yanomami people, such as water pollution, the destruction of land, and an environmental impact.
"Those who paid the highest price, who were the most affected, were the children. Many died. Officially, we have 570 records of dead children and about 300 that have not yet been declared in the system from 2019 to today," he said.
Highlighting the vulnerability of the Yanomami tribe due to the lack of protection against illegal mining activities during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, he stressed that the invaders devastated Yanomami lands and put the community at risk, particularly due to the pollution of water sources.
"It was hard for children and adults. The women have nowhere to fish. The animals also moved away from the communities due to these problems, making it very difficult to hunt a porcao, wild pig, a deer or a paca, rodent to feed their community. We Yanomami feed ourselves through nature. Currently, to be able to hunt a porcao, we need to walk between seven and 10 days. That is why I say that these invasions had such an impact on the lives of the Yanomami,” he said....
Chaim warned that if the Brazilian government does not halt illegal mining activities, the destruction in the Amazon rainforest will reach catastrophic proportions.If the uncontrolled devastation continues, the Amazon may not exist in 200 or 500 years, he said, acknowledging the initial steps taken by the government, with approximately 23,000 miners being deported from the Yanomami indigenous region.
He emphasized, however, the need for new laws and regulations to cease aerial operations in the region and the challenging task of maintaining 24/7 surveillance over the entire area.
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