In an extraordinary encounter, a group of 89 uncontacted Indians suddenly appeared in an Indian community in the Brazilian state of Pará last week. The Indians had travelled through the forest for five days, probably fleeing from attacks by loggers or miners.
The area has been sealed off to protect the isolated group from diseases which could be fatal to them.
The first contact was reportedly made by two men who made noises outside a house and were spotted by two young people. The men were appealing for help. Later the rest of the group came out of the forest and camped near the village, where one of the women gave birth.
The uncontacted group, like the villagers, are Metyktire Indians. The Metyktire are a sub-group of the Kayapó tribe. They made first contact with Brazilians in 1950, but the group, which has just appeared chose to remain in isolation. Many Metyktire believed that over the years the isolated group had all died.
After the initial shock of meeting their kin after fifty years, the group of uncontacted Metyktire began to sing and dance with emotion. Their songs were recorded and played over two-way radio to other Kayapó communities.
One Kayapó Indian reports, "Their language is much more original than ours. When I heard them talking on the radio I didn't understand much of what they said, but my uncle understands them much better."
Human rights organization Survival International's director, Stephen Corry, talking about the Indians showing commented, "More than 100 uncontacted tribes exist in the world today, and many of them are being pushed to the brink by those who want their land. Over the coming weeks we will no doubt learn what led the Metyktire to make contact."
Show Comments (2)
AES
It is odd how international conservation organizations like Green Peace are more interested in saving frogs and trees rather than saving these rare ancient homo sapiens.
How does this world allow miners and loggers to kill off these sub humans but bring to international court and the court of public opinion the killing of whales for food by the Japenese, or baby fur seals? How does Brazil continue to allow lawlessness of such a heinous nature. Where is Brazil’s central government? Not to control ie enforce the law, is to be complicit in the suffering it brings on humanity, and that is the greatest injustice, the greatest crime. Genocide for trees smells like apartheid.
João da Silva
AES
[quote]It is odd how international conservation organizations like Green Peace are more interested in saving frogs and trees rather than saving these rare ancient homo sapiens.[/quote]
It is a good question to ask Brigitte Bardot!