Unveiling the Hidden Struggle: Empowering the Mbya Gurnam Community’s Fight for Survival

In southeastern Brazil, the Mbya Guarani people are fighting to protect their ancestral lands and cultural heritage. Despite legal protections, they face ongoing threats from land developers and other powerful interests. Their land is deeply tied to their identity, and losing it would mean losing their connection to their ancestors and way of life. Despite these challenges, the Mbya Guarani remain resilient. They continue to fight for their rights while preserving their traditions through language, music, and storytelling.

The Mbya Guarani community is facing many threats to their survival, such as losing their ancestral lands, the erasure of their culture, and social and economic struggles. There are laws and initiatives in place to help protect them, like Article 231 of Brazil’s Constitution, which acknowledges the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands. The National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) is another organization that works to protect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples in Brazil.

On an international level, the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 169, which Brazil has agreed to follow, also provides guidelines to protect indigenous peoples’ lands, resources, and cultural heritage.

However, even with these protections, the Mbya Guarani community still faces serious challenges. Deforestation, mining, and farming activities continue to encroach on their lands, threatening their survival and making their fight for rights and resources an ongoing battle.

In recent years, the Mbya Guarani community has made important progress in protecting their land and culture, but their journey is far from over. In 2019, the creation of the Mbya Guarani Territorial Reserve marked a significant achievement. This reserve, covering about 1,500 square kilometers in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, was set up to safeguard their ancestral lands and preserve the rich cultural heritage they hold dear.

In 2020, another step forward was the launch of the “Mbya Guarani Language and Culture Revitalization Program” by the Brazilian government. This initiative promotes their native language and traditions through language classes, cultural workshops, and community development projects. These efforts are helping to ensure that the next generation of Mbya Guarani remains connected to their roots.

Despite these advancements, the Mbya Guarani people still face many challenges. Land rights conflicts, environmental damage to their territories, and ongoing social and economic struggles continue to threaten their way of life.

Their fight for survival shows their incredible strength and determination. While they continue this battle, they need broader support. By standing with them, we can help protect their lands, preserve their culture, and ensure a brighter future for their community. Together, we can make a lasting difference.

Suparna Rao, Staff Reporter.