USAID supports Brazil’s first indigenous fire brigade
Fire prevention training course is taking place in the Kayapo Indian village of Metyktire

Members of the Kayapó Indigenous group receive fire prevention training

Photo: Capota Jarina

METYKTIRE – The USAID/Brazil environment program, through a small grant administered by the U.S. Forest Service contributed funds for the purchase of boats and outboard motors to transport participants during the training of Brazil’s first indigenous fire brigade inside the Capota Jarina Indigenous Reserve, in the Xingu River basin of Mato Grosso. The fire prevention training course started this June 25 and will go through July 11 in the Kayapo Indian village of Metyktire.

Fires spreading from ranches bordering the Capota Jarina Indigenous Reserve are an increasing hazard to the integrity of the forests in this reserve. In this context, Major Mariano, Coordinator of fire prevention training for indigenous communities, based in Colider, Mato Grosso and Moacir Melo, former advisor to Instituto Raoni organized and are implementing this course, through Instituto Raoni, to train indigenous “fire warriors” to combat these fires.