The Indigenous people of South America are “in danger of extinction” and facing a massive genocide, which poses a “threat to their survival”. These people have suffered through a long history of discrimination and abuse, with the coronavirus pandemic now endangering them further.
Let’s travel to the 1960s and examine what Indigenous South Americans were forced to endure. Between the 1960s and ’80s, infrastructure projects led to the loss of Indigenous land on a large scale. Indigenous people faced injustices such as kidnappings, colonization, massacres, attacks, and murders in numerous countries, including Brazil, Chile, and Colombia.
Although strides have been taken to acknowledge Indigenous people in numerous ways, such as increasing government representation and protecting rights, many are still not safe. For example, in Brazil “land grabbers” have been illegally invading and trying to take Indigenous land for logging, mining, or farming. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has even stated that the U.S. was “competent” for its genocide of Native Americans, making it clear that he wants to remove protections on Indigenous land. Furthermore, protests in recent years (stemming from the threat of developmental projects taking even more Indigenous land in Latin America) have resulted in the death and imprisonment of many activists. Global Witness documents that (of the killings found) at least 185 activists were killed, 40% being Indigenous. Out of these 185 deaths, 109 were in Brazil, Colombia, or the Philippines.
Health struggles are already immense, as environmental contamination has led to anemia and malnutrition among Indigenous peoples living in Peru. So, what is the coronavirus doing to worsen things? Many factors feed into why the virus is so dangerous for Indigenous communities, one being that Indigenous peoples have always been ignored by government services, and the pandemic is proving to be no exception. Additionally, the location of communities plays a key role in the danger the residences face. For instance, many are living long distances from hospitals, while others live at the border of Peru, Brazil, or Colombia, making them susceptible to catching the virus from those traveling across. Many communities are in poverty or have a large number of people with underlying medical conditions, placing them at a disadvantage and a higher risk.
Unfortunately, government health guidelines aren’t always helpful. Hand washing is recommended, yet many communities don’t have the proper water supply to comply. Social distancing is also encouraged, yet many communities have been forced into crowded reserves. In some Indigenous groups, healers are commonly elders, which is dangerous considering how the elderly are at a higher risk.
Not only is the virus putting Indigenous communities’ health at risk, it is also endangering them economically. Many people work in agriculture, but COVID-19 has made it much more difficult to sell produce.
The Indigenous peoples of South America have been targeted for decades, their safety and land constantly being jeopardized. They have faced an extensive past of abuse, and though action has been taken to protect them, danger still looms over Indigenous communities worldwide.
Ways to Help:
View the informative Google Doc created by one of our Content Developers linked below! Here, you'll find a variety of resources and ways to help Indigenous groups in South America and around the world.
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Written by: Brinley Pethe
Edited by: Mackenna Hunter & Paige Inocencio