The defense of indigenous peoples’ rights, the protection of ancestral territories, and the impacts of illegal mining were among the central themes of the 8th Ordinary Assembly of the Hutukara Yanomami Association (HAY), held June 15–18 at the Lago Caracaranã Regional Center in the Brazilian state of Roraima.
The gathering brought together Yanomami and Ye’kwana leaders, representatives of indigenous organizations, church institutions, and international agencies to reflect on the challenges facing communities in areas such as health, education, territorial governance, and the defense of human rights.
One of the most significant moments of the Assembly was the participation of B Bishop Evaristo SpenglerB , bishop of the Diocese of Roraima, who reaffirmed the Church’s historic commitment to the region’s indigenous peoples.
“The Church in Roraima has chosen to stand in solidarity with the indigenous peoples,” the bishop said during his address.
Bishop Evaristo recalled that for decades the local Church has stood alongside indigenous communities, sharing in their joys, sufferings, and struggles, and joining them in the defense of life, the land, and human dignity.
“The Church’s mission is not tied to the exercise of power, but to the service of life and human dignity. As a Church, we support the Yanomami people in their demands and in calling for concrete action on the part of the State,” he noted.
A Strong Voice Against Illegal Mining
The indigenous leaders present once again denounced the serious impacts that illegal mining continues to cause within the Yanomami Indigenous Territory. During the working sessions, testimonies were heard warning of river pollution, the destruction of forests, threats to community health, and the risk these activities pose to the survival of indigenous peoples.
The statements emphasized the need to strengthen territorial protection measures and to ensure compliance with the rights recognized for indigenous peoples.
“This land is our mother. If our land is destroyed, how will we be able to live?” said one of the Yanomami leaders during the discussions.
Likewise, indigenous women leaders called for strengthening surveillance and protection measures to ensure the future of new generations and preserve the ecosystems that sustain the lives of their communities.
Presence of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
The Assembly also included representatives from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), who highlighted the importance of listening directly to the affected communities and reiterated their commitment to following up on complaints related to human rights violations in indigenous territories.
The IACHR representatives noted that there is sufficient evidence of the impacts of illegal mining and underscored the need to maintain permanent protection and monitoring mechanisms for the Amazonian indigenous peoples.
A Message of Solidarity from Pope Leo XIV
As part of the Assembly, the Vatican Secretariat of State conveyed a message from Pope Leo XIV to the participants of the gathering. Through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, the Pontiff assured the participants of his spiritual closeness and his prayers for the indigenous peoples and for the success of the Assembly.
The message highlighted the importance of strengthening the unity of indigenous peoples around their traditional values, cultures, and principles, recognizing their fundamental contribution to the protection of the Amazon and our Common Home.The 8th Hutukara Assembly thus reaffirms the leading role of indigenous peoples in the defense of their territories and strengthens alliances among communities, the Church, and human rights organizations to continue building paths of justice, dignity, and care for life in the Amazon.