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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.

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.”

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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