26 February 2013
We, the undersigned, have all labored with Yanomami Indians for extended durations
at totally different occasions over the last 5 many years. We’ve got intently witnessed them to be a
usually peaceful individuals, who, as many conventional individuals do, often have interaction
in inter-village conflicts (ritualized raids and duels). But the casualties of those
culturally managed conflicts are extraordinarily low if in contrast with these of the
violence and contamination inflicted on the Yanomami by the gold miners and cattle
ranchers who invade their lands. We completely disagree with Napoleon Chagnon’s
public characterization of the Yanomami as a fierce, violent and archaic individuals. We
additionally deplore how Chagnon’s work has been used all through the years – and will nonetheless
be used – by governments to disclaim the Yanomami their land and cultural rights.
Dr Bruce Albert, Analysis Director, Institut de recherche pour le développement
(IRD), France
Dr Catherine Alès, College of Social Sciences (EHESS), CNRS, France
Dr Jean Chiappino, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), France
Dr Marcus Colchester, Director, Forest Peoples Programme, UK
Dr Rogério Duarte do Pateo, Federal College of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Dr Kenneth Good, New Jersey Metropolis College, USA
Dr Gale Goodwin Gomez, Rhode Island Faculty, USA
Dr Jeffrey Gorham, Brazil
Dr Sílvia Guimarães, College of Brasilia, Brazil
Dr. Gabriele Herzog-Schröder, LMU Munich, Germany
Dr Zeljko Jokic, Australia
Dr José Antonio Kelly, Federal College of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Dr Marie-Claude Mattei Müller, Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV),
Venezuela
Dr Marcos Pellegrini, Federal College of Roraima, Brazil
Dr Alcida Ramos, College of Brasilia, Brazil
Dr Maria Inês Smiljanic, Federal College of Paraná, Brazil
Dr Rosangela de Souza Biserra, Federal District Training Secretariat, Brasilia,
Brazil
Dr Leslie E Sponsel, College of Hawaii, USA
Dr Kenneth I Taylor, USA
