The Xikrin of Cateté and Vale’s threats

Vale’s impacts on the lives of the Xikrin and Kayapó peoples date back to the beginning of the development of the Carajás Project, in Pará, in the 1970s. The Xikrin are one of the Indigenous groups most affected by the uncontrolled, authoritarian, and violent occupation of the Amazon undertaken by the Brazilian military in the past and continued today by national and global mining companies. “What we want is for Vale to really listen to our demands and agree to at least reduce the environmental impacts of their mining projects. Vale wants an agreement so that they decide what is most important. It doesn’t work like that. This is not going to be resolved only with money, with a settlement. The Indigenous people need to actively participate in projects that Vale intends to continue.” – Yan Xikrin, young indigenous leader from the Council of Leaders in the Xikrin do Cateté Indigenous Land.