In February, ISPN began meetings to develop the Annual Work Plan (Year 6) and accountability report (Year 5) in villages in northern Maranhão, within the framework of the Cooperation and Commitment Agreement (TCC). The aim is to promote opportunities for listening, discussion, and prioritization of activities to be carried out, while simultaneously strengthening transparent and participatory management processes with the Guajajara, Ka'apor, and Awa peoples, encompassing four Indigenous Territories (Caru, Rio Pindaré, Awá Guajá, and Alto Turiaçu).
The actions foreseen in the TCC involve several strategic axes, such as Economic Sustainability and Income Generation; Infrastructure; Cultural Strengthening; Institutional Strengthening; Education; Health; Citizenship; Basic Sanitation and Territorial Protection. Some activities are carried out directly by ISPN, others by the indigenous association of each people, in order to promote the autonomy, self-management and governance of indigenous organizations and communities.
The TCC (Term of Commitment) foresees an investment of R$ 60 million over 10 years. The management of the resources is shared between the Guajajara Indigenous association, Mainumy from the Rio Pindará Indigenous Land and Wirazu from the Caru Indigenous Land, and the Ka'apor association, and ISPN (Instituto Superior de Pesquisa e Pesquisas Nacionais). In the case of the Awá, the management is entirely carried out by ISPN. A percentage is also defined each year for the associations. Annually, the percentage of execution under the responsibility of ISPN decreases and that of the associations increases. So that in nine years the associations will be executing 100% of the resources. Currently, the execution of activities is at 30% for ISPN and 70% for the associations.
“For us, the TCC's actions within the communities are very important. A great achievement has been the improvement of housing and the acquisition of vehicles for all the villages. Another super important action, which reflects on our food security, is the encouragement of farming,” emphasized the president of the Mainumy Association, Arlete Guajajara.
For Chief Irakadju Ka'ápor, the Cooperation Agreement is more than just a transfer of resources. “The Cooperation Agreement has strengthened surveillance efforts and improved education and health services. The Cooperation Agreement has been helping to improve and implement structures not only for our association but also for our communities. Today, the Ka'ápor people understand that the association has the autonomy to manage and pursue other projects, thanks to the support provided by the Cooperation Agreement,” emphasized the indigenous leader.
The Commitment Agreement (TCC) is a legal instrument, a social responsibility of Vale SA, that guarantees improved quality of life for communities historically affected by the Carajás Railway (EFC), through an agreement between indigenous associations with the support of FUNAI (National Indian Foundation), with ISPN and the associations acting as implementing organizations. The governance of the Commitment Agreement provides for two decision-making bodies: the Fiscal Council and the Working Group, both with roles and functions defined in Internal Regulations approved by the Fiscal Council. All spaces are collective and democratic, bringing together indigenous leaders from the communities, directors of indigenous associations, representatives from FUNAI, Vale, and ISPN.