The Indigenous leaders present at the meeting on November 13 including representatives from the following groups: Yawalapiti, Aweti, Kuikuro, Suyá, Yudjá, Kaiabi, Waurá, Mehinaku, Nafukuá and Kalapalo - informed governor Blairo Maggi that the part of the river where the public works was being constructed is sacred to the Peoples of the Xingu Indigenous Park. This place was where the first Kuarup ceremony was held, an annual festival held to give homage to the distinguished dead of the Upper Xingu Peoples and is, today, an important reference to historical culture for all Indigenous Peoples of the region.

Maggi stated that it was not known this sacred aspect to that part of the Culuene River and determined that the Paranatinga Electric Energy company should immediately stop all work. "Until an evaluation is carried out, all works at the site remain suspended", stated the Maggi. At the meeting a letter was distributed by the Indigenous leaders, in which they reiterated their position to fight without concessions and also expressed their concern about the environmental impact generated by the works. "These are works that end up killing the rivers. We have to stop this before we end up with no more fish in Xingu", alerted Makupá Kaiabi, president of Associação Terra Indígena Xingu, one of the organisations that heads the 'Y ikatu Xingu campaign.

On Sunday the 14th, some leaders visited the site and certified that all work machines had been removed. The visit was only made possible following the suspension of the Regional Federal Tribunal's preliminary injunction, denying entrance to the area of the damn. The Paranatinga company had requested the injunction.

Read the letter distributed by Xingu Indigenous Peoples at the Canarana meeting:

Xingu Indigenous Park, October 28, 2004

Our leaders from the villages of the Xingu Indigenous Park were at the plantation located near the Couto Magalhaes villa to verify the construction of a damn on the Kuluene River. Initially our concern was with the preservation of water resources, our principal source of nourishment. The place were the dam is being constructed, even though it is outside of the Park, is a sacred place for the Xingu Peoples. It was where the first KWARYP festival occurred.

The Kuluene River is a tributary of the Xingu River, which is one of the best preserved rivers in Brazil, thanks to the Indigenous presence along its entire course, making it a national preservation reference, benefiting various Indigenous People, Riverain Peoples and small and large producers.

We will not permit destruction of such an important place. We are very concerned with the preservation of the Kuluene River and the other rivers that are sources to this one. We count on your collaboration to join together for the preservation of cultural and environmental patrimony so important for Indigenous Peoples and the entire national society.

`Y ikatu Xingu.

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