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Paraguay
USAID Empowers Indigenous Leaders in Paraguay
To Defend Homes, Obtain Titles to Ancestral Lands
On an otherwise quiet night in a rural area of eastern Paraguay,
an indigenous community known as Nembiara, found itself suddenly
and violently under attack.
![Young boy with symbol painted on face and women walking in circle in background.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081108202626im_/http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/country/images/paraguay_oguasu1.jpg) |
The Mbya indigenous
communities are recovering their ancestral rituals and
traditions, as well as their ancestral lands with USAID
support. (Photo from USAID-Paraguay) |
The attackers dislodged the 30 Mbya Guarani families from
their ancestral lands and destroyed their crops and homes.
The Mbya Guarani adults, members of this ancient indigenous
group, were left with no choice but to grab their children
and seek protection in the bush, not knowing when, if ever,
they would be able to return.
At the time of the attack, the Nembiara community had been
desperately clinging to a mere 500 hectares, the last timber
standing from its once vast ancestral territory.
Indigenous groups such as the Nembiara are facing threats
to their claim on ancestral lands from several fronts, including
logging and agricultural interests, drug traffickers, and
organized crime.
The net effect of these attacks and imposed displacement
is that they often are forced to lives of poverty and insecurity,
their cultural practices and norms often abandoned.
A Pargauayan non-governmental organization (NGO), Oguasu,
assists with USAID’s support to help these groups secure
their land rights by empowering indigenous leaders to actively
engage the government to negotiate through land titles the
Mbya Guarani ownership of these ancestral lands.
“Oguasu does not impose its views on any project or
program,” said Marilin Rehnfeldt of Oguasu. “The
indigenous leaders mobilize based on the needs and priorities
of their communities. The results obtained by these leaders,
once they are empowered with the necessary skills and tools
for action, are amazing.”
Between 2003 and 2004, Oguasu has helped eight Mbya indigenous
communities, home to approximately 1,278 people, to successfully
negotiate legal titles for a total of 4,133 hectares of land.
Oguasu has also supported the Mbya to lobby for legislation
and public policies concerning public health and education
for indigenous populations. For example, Oguasu helped the
indigenous community leaders to draft the following legislative
actions: “Law for a National Health System for Indigenous
Populations,” “Law for Indigenous Education,”
and “Law for Indigenous Communities.”
![Men with bows and arrows.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081108202626im_/http://www.usaid.gov/locations/latin_america_caribbean/country/images/paraguay_oguasu2.jpg) |
These Mbya men
ceremoniously defend their ancestral lands with rustic
bows and arrows, while in reality their fight is being
carried out within the legal system via land titling
negotiations. (Photo from USAID-Paraguay) |
Moreover, each indigenous community has appointed public
health advocates and midwives who have been trained by Oguasu
to help improve community health conditions.
“Now children are immunized, pregnant women are no
longer afraid to ask for neo-natal care....and community members
have even learned to dress warmly to prevent the spread of
colds during the winter,” stated Catalina Pelayo, who
coordinates the public health advocates.
Oguasu is one of over 60 organizations that receive grants
from USAID/Paraguay implemented by Paraguayan NGO CIRD (Centro
de Información y Recursos para el Desarrollo). This
program has invested $3 million over the past three years
to strengthen democracy in Paraguay through the support of
civic organizations that promote citizen participation, advocacy
and oversight, particularly within traditionally disenfranchised
groups, such as the Mbya Guarani.
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