The Indigenous populations of the Americas have been decimated by diseases brought by colonizers for centuries. With the first case of Coronavirus among Brazil’s Indigenous population identified on April 1st, the trend continues. They are under considerable risk of an outbreak spiraling out of control. Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, has time and time again placed his opinion and policy against the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon. Their resources and social environment are not fit to handle a pandemic. The outbreak could have serious repercussions.
One of Bolsonaro’s first actions in office was an assault on protections of the Amazon, exploiting Indigenous land and putting their populations at risk in the process. Later, he admitted to fueling fires in the Amazon to clear land for agriculture. This has caused severe damage to the local populations and the ecosystem. Their lands are being taken and their communities destroyed for the sake of corporate profit.
Bolsonaro has a history of racism against the Indigenous people of the country. He once stated: “It’s a shame that the Brazilian cavalry hasn’t been as efficient as the Americans, who exterminated the Indians,” one of many such remarks. He has permitted illegal loggers to seize and raid territory in the Amazon, which alongside the health risks of the virus, has lead Brazil’s Federal Public Ministry to warn of the “risk of genocide.”
Bolsonaro has displayed little care about Coronavirus. He has called it “a little flu” and has urged Brazilians to leave isolation and go back to work. This is in a country that has reported 22,720 cases and 1,270 deaths as of April 13. His lack of regard for both taking the necessary precautions against Coronavirus and protecting the Indigenous communities in the territory project a very dangerous situation in Brazil.
The Indigenous territories of the Amazon do not have the resources to fight this battle alone.
Their communities have very limited access to healthcare. People often live in close quarters with each other. Not to mention that 107 groups who have no contact with the outside world and would have no means to deal with an outbreak. And that doctors pose the risk of spreading the disease further.
Indigenous populations have a history of disease decimating their populations, and given the lack of resources and government response, there is a great possibility of Coronavirus dealing massive damage. Karl Marx said that history repeats itself, “the first as tragedy, then as farce.” Without a government to turn to, this situation is seemingly in the hands of non-profit groups and Brazilians willing to step up and help their fellow compatriots.
Arlo O’Blaney
Arlo grew up in New York City and is currently a Human Rights major at Bard College. He intends on using this background to pursue a career in journalism. He almost played D3 Lacrosse but realized how bad of an idea that was.