Enawene Nawe
Encyclopedia
The Enawene Nawe are a small tribe
who live by fishing and gathering in Mato Grosso
state, Brazil
. They practice agriculture and do not hunt or eat red meat. The Enawene Nawe are a relatively isolated people who were first contacted in 1974 by Vicente Cañas
. Today they number over 566. These people are in danger of being wiped out by the Brazilian corporations who encroach on their land and pollute the rivers from which they obtain their source of food. Many dams are being built on the main Juruena river, polluting the water and killing many of the fish. Without fish, there is basically no food for the people of this tribe. Most of the people believe it is Blairo Maggi
who wants these dams. He has plans to build 77 dams on the river. Constitutionally, Brazil's tribes are supposed to receive full protection from the federal government, but like its predecessors, the current government has frequently ceded to pressure from Blairo Maggi and other elements of Brazilian and international agribusiness. The people rely on support from NGOs like Survival International
.
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
who live by fishing and gathering in Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso is one of the states of Brazil, the third largest in area, located in the western part of the country.Neighboring states are Rondônia, Amazonas, Pará, Tocantins, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul. It also borders Bolivia to the southwest...
state, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. They practice agriculture and do not hunt or eat red meat. The Enawene Nawe are a relatively isolated people who were first contacted in 1974 by Vicente Cañas
Vicente Cañas
Vicente Cañas, S.J. was a Spanish Christian missionary and Jesuit brother, who is credited with making the first peaceful contact with the Enawene Nawe Indian tribe in 1974. Afterwards, he lived with them for over ten years, adopting to their way of life and helping them with necessary medical...
. Today they number over 566. These people are in danger of being wiped out by the Brazilian corporations who encroach on their land and pollute the rivers from which they obtain their source of food. Many dams are being built on the main Juruena river, polluting the water and killing many of the fish. Without fish, there is basically no food for the people of this tribe. Most of the people believe it is Blairo Maggi
Blairo Maggi
Blairo Maggi is a soy plantation farmer and former governor of the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil.Maggi also owns the André Maggi Group, a large company that harvests, processes, and exports soybeans...
who wants these dams. He has plans to build 77 dams on the river. Constitutionally, Brazil's tribes are supposed to receive full protection from the federal government, but like its predecessors, the current government has frequently ceded to pressure from Blairo Maggi and other elements of Brazilian and international agribusiness. The people rely on support from NGOs like Survival International
Survival International
Survival International is a human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the rights of indigenous tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples, seeking to help them to determine their own future. Their campaigns generally focus on tribal peoples' fight to keep their ancestral lands,...
.