By Xiting Tong (CS Intern)
“We who have the spiritual strength and relied on our land as a source of life are now selling our wealth and allowing them to be devastated in the name of progress…So what kind of progress is this?” asked the resident of the Jequitinhonha Valley, questioning the false promise of lithium mining corporations.
Jequitinhonha Valley, located in the southeast of Brazil, is the ancestral home to many Indigenous (Pankararú, Aranã, Maxakalí, Mokuriñ, Tuxá, Puri, Krenak, Pataxó) and Quilombola Communities. They are largely self-sufficient, living on agriculture and handicrafts. Many of them share proud histories of resisting colonialism and slavery.
Unfortunately, the Jequitinhonha Valley has also been the focal point during the process of so-called “green energy transition”: the land is rich in many rare earth minerals, lithium in particular. The strategic importance of these minerals attracted a huge influx of many transnational mining corporations into the region, bringing fatal destruction to the local environment and, consequently, the livelihood of Indigenous Peoples. These corporations are often from Canada, China, United States, Japan, as well as many European countries; Sigma Lithium Resources from Canada is the biggest one among them. Local and state-level governments not only disregard the people’s dissent, but also actively promote the plan of mining corporations, assist with their violent cartography, turn a blind eye to extensive legal frameworks at place, and grant corporations the access to the land without the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the Indigenous communities. The economically developed countries profit at the expense of the devastation of Indigenous communities, often with the blessings of local governments.
The Cinta Vermelha Village is situated northeast of Minas Gerais, next to the Jequitinhonha River. It is where the Pankararú and Pataxó People live, and it is one of the many villages that suffer from the intrusion of mining corporations. The villagers noticed the increase in violence, attempted rape, teenage prostitution and increased drug trafficking, which all appeared shortly after companies was set up in the region. The arrival of the companies also led to hikes of rent, and many guesthouses are rented out to house company employees. In addition, water, which is already scarce in this semi-arid region with very little rainfall, is being grabbed by companies because the operation needs large quantities of water. Indigenous Peoples and Quilombolas are collecting water from both the river and artesian wells, but the mining companies are currently buying companies that supply water. Villagers fear that in the very near future, water sources may dry up in a region where more than one million people live. The “sustainable” proposals presented to the people are often development projects that promise to bring great benefits to the region, and it was certainly well-received by some who believe that great progress will come and that people will have jobs and become rich. “They are offering courses to the population, organizing women as future entrepreneurs, holding conversations with artisans and offering false solutions because we know that they want the mineral…the ‘sustainability’ proposed by them is not for the population, not for the region, and much less for us Indigenous Peoples who will see our lands being devastated.” one villager said.
As the partners of the Keepers of the Earth program (KOEF), the Pankararú-Pataxó community in Cinta Vermelha Village decided to bring together the communities in the region to create a stronger bond to resist resource extraction. They initiated dialogues and held discussion groups to exchange experiences on the topic with other Indigenous communities that are being impacted. Meanwhile, they held training sessions on Indigenous rights and made clear to the villagers impacts of mining, revealing that the rhetoric of green transition and green economy is a shroud designed to cover up exploitation. Visits were made with representatives of the Pankararú Indigenous Peoples (Cleonice Pankararú, Uakyre Pankararú-Pataxó, Wakrewá Krenak-Pataxó, Osmar Aranã Kaabok and Antonio Aranã Kaabok), together with representatives of the Quilombolas Lucas and Dona Maria. During the visit, they recorded impacts such as dust, explosions and environmental damage directly in the Piaui Stream, a tributary of the Jequitinhonha River.
Moreover, during the project activities, they received eight visits from students and teachers from some State schools and universities. Together with community leaders and representatives, the visitors are educated on topics including Indigenous rights and the impacts of transition mining in the context of a “green economy”. An art and culture event was also held with eighteen students from Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, under the coordination of their professors and community members. The presence of the school community (state and municipal schools, institutes and universities) in the village established new sources of partnerships and volunteers aimed at strengthening projects and collective actions.
They also carried out joint efforts to demarcate and protect their territory. This includes putting up identification signs at strategic points in the territory, cleaning the site, planting seedlings, repairing the protective fence (entrance to the village), building trails and firebreaks. So far they have carried out eight joint efforts like this from 2023 to 2024. “The project is important for our Indigenous Peoples because it will assist our organization and fight for the security of our territory; it will contribute to preserving our culture and identity, and strengthening the partnership with other partner organizations.” one community member said.
The Pankararú-Pataxó People’s efforts in the Cinta Vermelha Village exemplify a powerful movement towards uniting communities to resist the detrimental impacts of lithium extraction in the Jequitinhonha Valley. Through education, collaboration, and proactive measures to protect their lands, these Indigenous communities are not only defending their environment and way of life but also challenging the narratives of progress and sustainability presented by mining corporations. Their commitment to preserving their culture and securing their territory stands as a testament to the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples in the face of exploitation and the context of neo-colonialism.
In 2024, the Pankararú-Pataxó people from the Cinta Vermelha community received a Keepers of the Earth Fund grant from Cultural Survival. KOEF is an Indigenous-led fund within Cultural Survival designed to support the advocacy and community development projects of Indigenous Peoples. Since 2017, KOEF has funded 310 projects in 41 countries through small grants totaling $1,603,307 and provided technical assistance benefiting 328 Indigenous Peoples. KOEF provides grassroots Indigenous-led communities, organizations, and traditional governments to support their self-determined development projects based on Indigenous values. Predicated on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Cultural Survival uses a rights-based approach in our grantmaking strategies to support Indigenous grassroots solutions through the equitable distribution of resources to Indigenous communities.
