The Continuation of White Supremacy in Brazil: Religious Persecution with Guarani-Kaiowa Relatives

By Reyes Devore (PAA - Community Programming Director)

Pueblo communities in (so-called) New Mexico united in the name of revolution in 1680 to protect not just our lifeways, but Mother Earth. This solidarity between communities was integral to push out settler influences of forced religion, assimilation and greed. The violence inflicted on our peoples is not limited to the influences mentioned but it ignited an uprising and collective resistance by our ancestors. As I reflect back on my Hemish (Jemez) history, our people stood strong by defending and protecting our homelands. We are one of the villages that were instrumental to the resistance of Spanish settler conquests. 

For centuries, Pueblo peoples have deeply cared for the land. We see our earth mother as a sacred living entity. Since time immemorial we have been maintaining a reciprocal balance to ensure all of her children are protected. This includes everything from mountain tops down to the river beds that stream through our communities. They each nourish us by providing sustenance for life to carry on, not solely for the individual, but a communal whole. Collective care is a core value that has been instilled within Pueblo people and we must remember this as we witness the continued exploitation of other Indigenous communities. 

When we talk about colonialism, it must be noted that settler conquests were happening long before violent attacks took place in what is now the so-called US Empire. European settlers have been displacing Indigenous Peoples around the world for centuries. Many countries across the world have a violent history of attempted genocide, and for many people of the global majority, this violence continues today. For these reasons it is imperative that we manifest our roots of solidarity to stand with other Indigenous relatives across Turtle Island and beyond as we collectively experience the Global Indigenous Struggle.

Since 2018, PAA has been building community, connection, and solidarity with Guarani-Kiaowa Peoples of Brazil. That was the year that I had the opportunity to visit their villages and meet community members, and where we were able to initiate Pueblo-Guarani-Kaiowa solidarity. The pandemic brought further building with them when they reached out to us expressing their need for PPE (personal protection equipment) to safeguard their peoples from COVID-19. Over time, our relatives have had many opportunities to share experiences about present injustices they face in the protection of their ancestral homelands, culture and peoples. 

Settler violence continues across Brazil at an exasperating rate. Beyond exploitation from racist government systems, agribusiness capitalism, and land seizures, they are currently in the fight against religious persecution of their traditional lifeways. Since first contact, Indigenous Peoples of Brazil have been resisting these colonial assimilation tactics. Today, their resistance is focused against neopentocostal churches. The neo pentacostal church violence is rooted from white supremacy theology: similar to the Christian empire in the US. There are various mega churches in Brazil using physical violence to shame spiritual leaders for practicing their traditional religions. Women, elders and children have been and continue to be hurt while being told that their Indigenous lifeways are “Devil worshipping”. 

What is happening in Brazil are acts of modern day genocide. Religious persecution is a form of assimilation as it is an attack on our birthrights as Indigenous peoples to carry out our lifeways. Similar tactics have been used against Indigenous peoples since first contact. The Doctrine of Discovery, which allowed for the European Church to dominate “barbarous nations”, has set the foundation for religious institutions to use faith as a hierarchical power of dominance over people. 

PAA stands with our relatives as the histories shared between the Guarani-Kaiowa of Brazil and Pueblo peoples both have a violent history that we never collectively consented to. The timelines and stories are different, but our resistance and spiritual solidarity remains strong as we have been dehumanized for far too long. This call to action is to support our relatives in their fight against religious persecution. The Guarani-Kaiowa peoples have minimal support that respectively listens to them, or that is fully led by them. We take their outreach to us for solidarity seriously, as exerting our right as Indigenous Peoples is an act of self-determination as it bridges the work to dismantle oppressive systems. International Indigenous solidarity is vital to the work towards liberation. Uplifting the Global Indigenous Struggle strengthens the revolutionary path to abolish colonial structures. Through this resistance, we move forward to continue this lifework. 

**To support the Guarani-Kaiowa we ask that you follow this link to donate to their fight. Please note that this page will direct you to an organization that fully acknowledges the violent history of our relatives and actively works to strengthen their relationship for solidarity. This page will also be in Portuguese, but can be translated to english and all funds will go directly to them. This donation platform is trusted by our Guarani-Kaiowa Relatives**