Funai, Foirn and ISA celebrate Cooperation Agreement to strengthen actions in Rio Negro

2024-04-17 10:51:16

With the aim of joining efforts to strengthen indigenous peoples and protect territories in the Rio Negro (AM) region, a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) was signed in Brasília on Monday (15/04) between the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai), the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of Rio Negro (Foirn) and the Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA).

“This cooperation agreement aims to implement a series of activities and actions that are proposed for this region of the Rio Negro”, explained Joenia Wapichana, president of Funai. She highlighted that the instrument should serve to join efforts in strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples and public policies planned for the Rio Negro region, in the State of Amazonas.

From left to right: the executive secretary of ISA, Adriana Ramos, the CEO of Foirn, Marivelton Barroso, the Baré people, and the president of Funai, Joenia Wapichana|José Rui Gavião/Funai

The purpose of the Technical Cooperation Agreement is the joint action between Funai, Foirn and ISA with local indigenous organizations to implement territorial management, sustainability and governance actions, in accordance with the National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands (PNGATI ).

The CEO of Foirn Marivelton Barroso, from the Baré people, stated that the agreement promotes the integration of environmental and territorial management agendas and agendas, with each agent acting in their area of ​​responsibility.

“This moment brings the resumption of Technical Cooperation Agreements for civil society, indigenous and indigenous organizations, which work in certain territories. We have actions aimed at Indigenous Lands, which are the responsibility of Funai, the country’s indigenous body, which adds to Foirn’s representation and the socio-environmental agenda that includes ISA as a strategic partner in this region”, he said.

Founded in 1987, Foirn represents 23 indigenous peoples, 93 grassroots organizations, seven Indigenous Lands already officially recognized by the Federal Government and three still in the process of land regularization.

The institution’s headquarters are in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, the third most indigenous municipality in the country, located in the Rio Negro region, in one of the most preserved areas in the country.

For ISA’s executive secretary, Adriana Ramos, the agreement is a milestone for the advancement of policies and defense of indigenous rights. “It is a joy for ISA to sign this cooperation agreement. We have been working in the Rio Negro region for decades in partnership with Foirn. And being able to count on an articulation that involves Funai, with this commitment to advancing policies to defend indigenous rights in the region, is extremely satisfying. Here we have a framework for how civil society can contribute to the State and indigenous peoples to guarantee their rights”, she celebrated.

Also present for ISA was the Rio Negro Program lawyer, Renata Vieira.

Signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement took place during the month of Indigenous Peoples, at Funai headquarters, in Brasília|José Rui Gavião/Funai

ISA operates in the region through the Rio Negro Program (PRN) and is headquartered in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, maintaining teams working in areas such as intercultural research, economics of socio-biodiversity, legal advice, communication, strengthening territorial management and associations.

In addition to Marivelton Baré, Foirn was represented by director Dario Baniwa, Carlos Nery, director of the Coordination of Indigenous Associations of the Middle and Lower Rio Negro (Caimbrn), the elected Caimbrn coordinator, Marcos Zeidam and lawyer Mayte Ambrósio.

Also present for Funai were the coordinator of Funai – Rio Negro Regional Coordination, Maria do Rosário Piloto, Dadá Baniwa; the directors of Territorial Protection, Janete Carvalho; for Promotion of Sustainable Development, Lucia Alberta; and Administration and Management, Mislene Metchacuna; the general coordinator of Strategic Management at Funai, Artur Nobre and the federal prosecutor specializing in Funai, Carolina Augusta. The head of the Social Participation and Diversity Advisory of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), Tacius Fernandes, represented the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva.