The migration of the Warao people from the Orinoco Delta to the heart of South America is one of the most significant examples of the challenges facing the Amazon today. This reality is addressed by anthropologist and Jesuit Aloir Pacini in the article “In Search of Citizenship and Territory: Integral Ecology and the Warao Way of Good Living in Cuiabá (MT)”, published in CLAR Magazine No. 2, 2026, dedicated to Ecotheology.
This issue of the journal offers a reflection on the relationship between faith, socio-environmental justice, the defense of territories, and care for our Common Home. From this perspective, the author presents the experience of the Warao people as a living testimony of resistance, hope, and the search for a place where they can rebuild their lives without renouncing their cultural identity.
Migration as a Quest for Life and Dignity
The article recounts the support provided since 2019 to a Warao community settled in the city of Cuiabá, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Driven out by the profound humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, numerous indigenous families undertook a long journey in search of conditions that would allow them to survive without losing their roots.
Pacini describes the many difficulties faced by these communities: constant evictions, precarious housing conditions, discrimination, problems accessing basic services, and the lack of a territory where they could practice their traditional way of life.
In the face of this reality, the creation of the Recanto das Aves community stands out—a space acquired thanks to the support of religious congregations and a broad network of ecclesial solidarity. There, some twenty families began building their homes (janokos), planted burití palms along the stream, and embarked on a community-driven process inspired by the principles of integral ecology and good living.
Integral Ecology Rooted in Indigenous Wisdom
The author demonstrates how the Warao people’s relationship with nature transcends the mere use of resources. The burití, for example, represents much more than a plant species: it is a source of food, shelter, crafts, cultural memory, and ecological balance.
From this perspective, integral ecology is not merely a theoretical proposal but a daily practice that integrates territory, spirituality, culture, and community.
The article emphasizes that indigenous peoples offer fundamental lessons for addressing the current socio-environmental crisis, particularly through their ability to live in harmony with ecosystems and to understand the interdependence among all living beings.
Defending Territory as a Prerequisite for Good Living
One of the central themes of the discussion is the importance of territory to the life of the Warao people. Pacini argues that it is not enough to provide shelter or temporary assistance; true inclusion requires recognizing the right of indigenous peoples to create spaces where they can practice their culture, strengthen their community bonds, and pursue their life’s purpose.
In this process, the author observes how the Warao community is beginning to transform the place where they live into a territory rich in memory, spirituality, and a sense of belonging, keeping their traditions alive even far from their place of origin.
Faith, Solidarity, and a Shared Mission
The text also highlights the role played by the Church and religious life in supporting migrant families. Collaboration among religious congregations, ecclesial organizations, universities, and volunteers made it possible to create a support network that today assists with housing construction, access to basic services, and the strengthening of community organization.
For Pacini, this experience represents a concrete expression of synodality, where the mission is lived out by walking alongside the most vulnerable peoples and promoting processes of dignity rooted in respect for their identity.Hope for the AmazonBeyond the specific case of Cuiabá, the author proposes understanding Warao migration as a sign of the times that challenges both the Church and society. The search for citizenship and territory expresses the deep longing of a people who wish to continue living according to their values, their spirituality, and their ancestral relationship with nature.In line with the path promoted by the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), the article invites us to recognize that the defense of migrant indigenous peoples is part of a commitment to an integral ecology that unites the protection of creation, the defense of human rights, and the building of communities where “good living” is possible. The experience of the Warao people reminds us that caring for our Common Home also means ensuring that those who inhabit it can live with dignity, identity, and hope.