Paper short abstract:

The paper will discuss the implementation of high speed Internet among indigenous peoples in north-western Brazil, the attempt to bring this new communication instrument to indigenous teachers and forestry agents, and the difficulties of keeping such a development programme running in an adequate way.

Paper long abstract:

Before starting development projects for indigenous peoples around the world, organisations and governments should hear and respect the needs and wishes and also the capabilities of each different group and location. Too often those programs did not succeed well and did not bring the necessary help to many communities around the world due to

the mismanagement of the programs and failure of Western specialists, who thought they were offering the necessary aid to these localities. Before starting a project it is crucial to verify how the communities would enact efforts for solving their problems within their own social reality. In Brazil, for instance, some projects have successfully

given voice to indigenous peoples, so that they can, with the help of NGOs and university programs, learn how to improve their own lives.

One example is the NGO Comissão Pró-Índio do Acre (CPI-AC -

Pro-Indigenous Peoples Commission of the State of Acre). This organisation has developed for over 20 years a number of specific programs by working in unison with some 16 indigenous ethnic groups of the State of Acre and neighbouring areas. CPI-AC also receives the cooperation of university programs and foreign NGOs. The main areas of

the organisation deal with projects orientated towards health, literacy, and forestry. All the projects are developed together with the participation of indigenous teachers and health and forestry agents who have received instruction in organisational skills. Over the years the work of CPI-AC has helped many teachers and agents to

gain self-confidence and promote pride in them for being indigenous persons in a society where they still suffer strong discrimination. My paper will present this promising Brazilian project and its efforts to offer to those indigenous peoples the right to be themselves and gain the

ability to struggle for their own rights. I will also present a case study regarding the work of CPI-AC with a specific Brazilian NGO that as a test had installed high speed satellite Internet in the Training Centre of CPI-AC for the indigenous teachers and health and forestry agents, but unfortunately did not include in their work the assistance that would have been essential for a good completion of that project.