Indigenous Delegation visits the Canadian Embassy in Brasilia

Indigenous affairs have traditionally been an important area of cooperation between Canada and Brazil. As part of the follow-up of the Quebec Summit of the Americas, the Canadian Embassy in Brasilia is actively promoting the development of cooperation in this area. Ambassador Jean-Pierre Juneau met on 21 February with Cacique Raoni, chief of the Caiapó peoples of the lower Xingu region of Mato Grosso, Brazil. An influential and respected chief, Cacique Raoni is famous for successfully challenging the Federal Government of Brazil over legislation relating to access to traditional lands, and gained international fame for his relationship with pop star Sting. Cacique Raoni was at the Embassy in the company of Wilson Santos a Federal Deputy from the State of Mato Grosso and Paulo Pinager, the director of the Amazon RainForest Foundation, seeking Canada's participation in a literacy initiative in the region of the lower Xingu.

Expressing frustration over fruitless years effort to conduct literacy training among his people, Raoni pointed to the successful Canadian experience and models. Raoni, who has visited Canada on several occasions, is in frequent contact with Indigenous peoples in Quebec, principally along the north shore of the St Lawrence. The Cacique is seeking Canada's support to work with indigenous peoples in our country to develop a literacy model relevant to the Caiapó, in order that he may see "his grandchildren literate and better equipped for the world to come". The Ambassador and his team welcomed the project proposal which seeks to teach children how to read and write in their mother tongue, transcribing the oral language of the Caiapó.

The photograph was taken after the meeting. From right to left: Cacique Raoni, Ambassador Jean-Pierre Juneau and a Caiapó elder.