The history of indigenous peoples in the Americas is one of invasion and land theft, justified by “brutal savage” stereotypes and underpinned by a denigration based on colonialist, racist ideology. With their territories intact, they are usually able to thrive, adapting to whatever changes they seek through the contacts they choose to make with their neighbors. Tribal peoples aren’t destroyed by a “culture clash” or any “inevitable march of history.” These are merely myths told to justify industrialized society’s relentless conquest of new territory. These peoples depend utterly on their land, so taking it from them strips them of their human rights and, ultimately, is genocidal. On the contrary, it’s a duty of every country where such peoples live. Securing indigenous ownership of their territories, including for uncontacted tribes, is not unrealistic. If the invaders can be kept out, the uncontacted Awá have every chance of survival. In 2014, a Survival campaign resulted in the expulsion of illegal loggers from territory in Brazil belonging to the Awá, considered the world’s most threatened tribe. More than two decades later, uncontacted Yanomami communities still live there. The first real success came in 1992 with the recognition of Yanomami territory in the Brazilian Amazon, following a 20-year campaign. There are many examples where territories have been protected, and Survival International has spent decades pressuring Amazon governments to demarcate specific areas for this purpose. If their territories are not invaded and stolen, they have a good chance of survival when their lands are taken, they are unlikely to survive at all. The only way to protect uncontacted tribal peoples is to ensure their lands are properly secured.
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