The Regional Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Amazonas State (ORPIA) issued a statement on October 12, 2026, to denounce the threats facing the indigenous peoples of the Venezuelan Amazon and to highlight more than five centuries of indigenous resistance against various forms of dispossession and colonization.
Under the slogan “October 12: Day of Indigenous Resistance and the Defense of the Mother Jungle”, the organization recalled that the European invasion of the American continent marked the beginning of a history of violence, territorial dispossession, and cultural disruption that continues to have consequences to this day.
According to the statement, indigenous communities currently face new forms of colonialism linked to mining extractivism, the occupation of their territories, and environmental pollution—situations that threaten their ways of life and the continuity of their cultures.
Illegal Mining and Irregular Groups Threaten Life in the Amazon
Among the main concerns expressed by ORPIA are the presence of irregular groups and the spread of illegal mining in Amazonas state. The organization warns that these activities cause river pollution, deforestation, and disruptions to community life.
The statement denounces that the expansion of these extractive activities puts both Amazonian ecosystems and the rights of the peoples who have ancestrally inhabited and cared for these territories at risk.
In light of this situation, ORPIA calls for the strengthening of measures to protect the Amazon and emphasizes that the defense of nature is closely linked to the survival, culture, and dignity of Indigenous communities.
Cultural Identity and Fundamental Rights
The organization also highlighted the importance of continuing the indigenous identification card issuance processes, which are considered essential for guaranteeing the right to identity of indigenous peoples. In this regard, it called for the progress made to be sustained continuously and without interruption.
Furthermore, it denounced the institutional neglect affecting Amazonian communities, particularly due to deficiencies in access to health care and education.
ORPIA criticized the fact that numerous indigenous families still lack sufficient guarantees to exercise their fundamental rights and access essential public services—a situation that deepens their vulnerability and hinders the well-being of future generations.
Defense of Territory and Recognition of Indigenous Rights
In its statement, the organization reaffirmed the right of indigenous peoples to defend their territories and demand responses to emergencies affecting their communities.
It also called for the demarcation and legal protection of ancestral lands, as well as compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Organic Law on Indigenous Peoples and Communities.
ORPIA further expressed its opposition to the creation of special indigenous jurisdictions for extractive purposes and outside the framework of existing law.
The organization emphasized that territorial defense is an indispensable condition for ensuring the continuity of the cultures, ways of life, and autonomy of indigenous peoples.
The Amazon as a Territory of Resistance and Hope
In concluding its statement, ORPIA reaffirmed that the ways of life of indigenous peoples represent an alternative for caring for the planet. Through their ancestral knowledge, community practices, and relationship with nature, these communities contribute to the protection of biodiversity and the preservation of Amazonian ecosystems.
Their call is summed up in two slogans that express the strength of their collective commitment: “The Amazon is not for sale—it must be defended!” and “Without territory, there is no life!”.
In line with the defense of Amazonian peoples and territories, this statement underscores the urgency of strengthening the protection of indigenous rights, halting activities that destroy ecosystems, and ensuring dignified conditions for the communities that safeguard our Common Home.
The resistance of Indigenous peoples continues to be a vital voice in denouncing the threats affecting the Amazon and promoting a future in which justice, human dignity, and care for creation are inseparable.
Source: Press release from the Regional Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Amazonas State (ORPIA), Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela, October 12, 2026.