Awa
Awa people live in the forest of the Amazon. This forest for some time used to cover a vast amount of land, but now, sadly, it is disappearing just like the tribes that used to live there. They are being replaced by farms of cattle and ranches or loggers. They are a different type of nomads, constantly moving deeper into the forest. Forced by the Westernized societies who must push them to maintain their way of living.
From one end, society is forcing them inwards and from the other, industry. Brazil’s underground resources are another aspect that attract the outside. Seven billion tons of iron ore lie beneath the Carajás mine alone. This mine is 370 miles to the west of the Awe territory. When a 900 mile railroad was built, which cut through the land of the Awe, disaster struck in the shape of malaria and the flu. Out of 91 people in a community, only 24 remained four years later. Loggers and ranchers are invading the the Awa’s land. Some 30% of their legally protected land has been cut down. If the forests fall so does the Awa’ tribe. But as long as they have their forests they will remain. |