The corona virus in Brazil presents a serious risk to the indigenous population. “Historically we know that indigenous people have a greater biological vulnerability to epidemics, especially to respiratory infections,” says Ana Paula Vargas from Amazon Watch. Respiratory diseases similar to the coronavirus were responsible for the high number of indigenous people killed in the 20th century.
Indigenous communities are now locking down their villages as they fear the disease could wipe them out. However, many of them depend on nearby urban centers in order to survive. Many families receive subsidy from Brazil’s government. But to get the subsidy, they have to put their lives at risk as they need to leave their villages to pick up the cash in nearby towns.
They also need to buy food and make a living selling indigenous crafts and other products. Some communities also had received tourists in order to improve their economy. In addition, health assistance is very limited in these villages.
This crowdfunding campaign aims to support the call for help we received from two Brazilian indigenous communities: The Maxakali in Minas Gerais and the Huni Kuin cultural center Huwã Karu Yuxibu in Acre.
Both of them are living near urban centers and therefore more exposed to Corona Virus. It is with extreme concern that we ask for emergency support to purchase food and hygiene products for these communities as they have little to none support from the current government.
The money collected will be equally divided and sent directly to the indigenous leaders of the mentioned communities above:
Maxakali People of Água Boa, Minas Gerais: Ismail Maxakali
Huwã Karu Yuxibu Center in Acre: Mapu Huni Kuin
Bank account for direct donations:
Verein Kapa Yuxibu für den Schutz der Umwelt durch indigene Völker
IBAN : AT80 2011 1840 9313 1000
BIC/SWIFT : GIBAATWWXXX
About us:
The Kapa Yuxibu Association for the Protection of the Environment by Indigenous Peoples has been registered as a non-profit association in Vienna under the ZVR number 1702335815 since April 2019. If you are interested, we will gladly send you the statutes by email.
Chairman is Klaus Werner-Lobo, author, trainer and coach in Vienna, human rights activist and former member of the state parliament of Vienna (https://www.werner-lobo.at). Deputy chairman is Mapu Huni Kuin (civil name Adaildo Borges Sereno Kaxinawa, since indigenous self-designations could not be officially registered in Brazil at that time). He is the founder, political and spiritual leader of the Huwã Karu Yuxibu centre he founded near Rio Branco, capital of the Brazilian state of Acre in the Amazon region.
Purpose of the association according to the statutes:
The association, whose activity is not aimed at profit, aims at the protection of the environment by indigenous peoples in Brazil and by the preservation of their habitats and cultures, as well as the promotion and dissemination of their ecological, social, cultural and human rights concerns in Europe.