A presidential candidate in Ecuador known for speaking up against drug cartels was assassinated less than two weeks before elections, while campaigns continue in Guatemala and Argentina. In other news, a woman in Mexico City has turned her apartment into a makeshift clinic for hummingbirds, Brazil concluded its Amazon Summit, Haitian residents protested gang violence, and a funeral home in El Salvador offered Barbie-motif coffins.
The Indigenous population in Brazil has nearly doubled since 2010, reaching 1.7 million people, according to the country's national statistics institute. This increase is attributed to a greater willingness among people to recognize their Indigenous roots and improved survey methods that have allowed access to previously unreachable villages. The growth is particularly significant within Indigenous territories, which saw a 20% increase. The announcement was made by Minister of Indigenous People Sonia Guajajara during the Amazon Summit, where representatives from eight countries discussed challenges facing the region. Indigenous groups, riverine communities, fishermen, and Afro-descendants participated in discussions on issues such as deforestation, illegal mining, and canceling new oil projects. The summit provided a platform for dialogue between civil society and the government after years of silencing under the previous administration.
Brazil's latest census reveals a significant increase in the Indigenous population, with 1.7 million people now recognized, marking an 89% jump from the previous census in 2010. The increase is attributed to a greater willingness among people to acknowledge their Indigenous roots and improved survey methods. The announcement was made by Minister of Indigenous People Sonia Guajajara during the Amazon Summit, where representatives from eight countries discussed various challenges faced by the Amazon region. Indigenous groups, riverine communities, fishermen, and Afro-descendants participated in discussions on issues such as deforestation, illegal mining, and harassment from carbon credit companies. The summit provided a platform for Indigenous voices to be heard after years of silencing under the previous government. The larger Indigenous population will result in increased government resources for health, education, and security, with plans to expel invaders from Indigenous territories.
