No country for indigenous men

“Genocide” is a strong word. But this is the term used by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to describe the catastrophic situation of the Yanomami indigenous people, who are experiencing a real humanitarian crisis caused by several preventable diseases. 

In images reminiscent of the worst periods in human history, desperate indigenous faces appear behind skin and bones, as if completely forgotten by the authorities. The macabre figures of Yanomami deaths in 2022 include children under the age of 5, showing that both new and old generations are subjected to this drama. 

It’s no surprise, however, to witness a humanitarian crisis in indigenous territory after four years of an extreme right-wing government that ignored environmental protections. That’s because former President Jair Bolsonaro gave several examples of how not to treat indigenous populations. 

Before his election, he declared that the indigenous people would not have “one centimeter of land demarcated” under his administration. He has also persistently supported the use of guns in the field, exacerbating conflicts in rural areas where land grabbers, farmers, and loggers fight over territory, leaving a trail of violence for indigenous peoples. 

The Bolsonaro administration is also accused of not promoting efforts to help the Yanomami, weakening the work of indigenous watchdog organizations, and ignoring the needs of these populations. Instead, the government allegedly knew about the problems in the Yanomami territory and did nothing to address them. 

Now, many Brazilians want two things: for the Yanomami situation to be brought under control as soon as possible, and for those responsible to be held accountable.

• Go deeper: Podcast: The Yanomami genocide

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