A destruição do Meio Ambiente e sua relação direta com a saúde dos Yanomami no Brasil

Abstract

This study aims to elucidate the effects of historical environmental destruction on diseases and deaths among the Yanomami, a collective of hunters and farmers residing in Brazil and Venezuela. Utilizing qualitative methodology and drawing on "The Falling Sky - Words of a Yanomami Shaman" and other academic works, it analyzes the trajectory of suffering of this people from their first destructive contacts with non-Indigenous individuals to current challenges, including epidemics and environmental degradation linked to illegal mining. It reveals how a significant increase in deaths and social disintegration highlights the scars left by prolonged contact with non-Indigenous society. It also discusses the continuous exploitation and destruction of Yanomami lands by economic activities and government policies, exacerbating vulnerability to diseases and barriers to healthcare access. It concludes by emphasizing the need to recognize and respect Yanomami rights to ensure their survival, well-being, and the preservation of their lands, cultural traditions, and spiritual beliefs, in the face of a global crisis affecting indigenous peoples worldwide.