According to the director of an indigenous peoples charity, the wild fires in the Amazon could be ‘genocidal’ for a newly discovered tribe.
The indigenous people who live in the remote Brazilian forests of Maranhão which have been severely affected by recent blazes. Survival International’s director, Stephen Corry, has said it’s “unclear if the men in the video are still alive.“
He said: “These fires are now not just an environmental catastrophe, they’re also potentially genocidal.
“By encouraging the land invaders and ranchers who set these fires, President Bolsonaro is signing a death warrant for the un-contacted tribes whose homes are going up in flames.
“If their forest is destroyed, they simply won’t survive.”
In a statement, it said: “The fires are destroying the remaining forests in these regions, which are vital spaces for the survival of our relatives.”
“There are isolated peoples also in the state of Mato Grosso, many of them have not yet had their presence recognized by the Brazilian state, who may be fleeing the deforestation and fires.”
A member of the neighboring Guajajara tribe named Flay Guajajara, captured the recent footage of the Awá people, he shot it while hunting.
He said: “We hope this film produces something positive.
“We hope it makes an impact around the world to help protect our people and our forest.”
Chief Tashka Yawanawa said: “Each one of us needs to be responsible economically, environmentally, culturally because otherwise the humanity is just gonna disappear like dinosaurs.”
According to reports, there are only around 80 of the nomadic Awá left in a reserve in the Maranhão forest in Brazil.
Tainaky Tenetehar, of the Guajajara tribe, previously told National Geographic: “Who’s going to fight for the isolated ones, if not us?”
“The loggers are entering all around the perimeter of the indigenous land.
“Their intention is to reach the center—where the isolates are. They have no choice but to flee when the loggers come.”
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