Indigenous of the Paraguayan Chaco

7/31/2019 Indigenous of the Paraguayan Chaco

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2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved.

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This is the final article in a series on Paraguays Chaco region highlighting the local

indigenous communities and some of the challenges they face. The first post focused on

Filadelfia, the areas largest town, the second on therural Chaco, and the third on the

Mennonites. Unlike my other travelogues that emphasize tourism, this one underscores

the sobering reality of life among the local indigenous.

Paraguays indigenous people comprise less than one percent of its population but have

an outsized influence on its culture. Most Paraguayans descended from indigenous and

European ancestry. An indigenous language,Guaran, is one of two official languages of

Paraguay (the other is Spanish) and is spoken by most Paraguayans. The countrys official

currency is the guarani.

In 2009, an estimated 108,000 indigenous persons lived in Paraguay, 46,000 of whom

resided in theChaco. Most belonged to subgroups of theGuarani ethnic group, the largest

indigenous group in Paraguay. Local Exnet communities are affiliated with theMaskoy

(toba-maskoy) indigenous group.

Life can be harsh for the indigenous living in the dry western portion of Paraguay, an area

prone to severe droughts. Many work for local employers such as Mennonite cooperatives

or private ranches, earning wages and benefits provided by assurance associations that

support indigenous communities with medical care, fresh water and other basic services.

Some own their own land and cultivate crops that they sell as cash crops. TheParaguayangovernmentand a fewnon-governmental organizations(NGOs) dedicated to helping the

indigenous provide fresh water, education, and other services. The remoteness and

relative inaccessibility of the Chaco hinders assistance.
http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/filadelfia-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/filadelfia-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/the-paraguayan-chaco/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/the-paraguayan-chaco/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/the-paraguayan-chaco/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/the-mennonites-of-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/the-mennonites-of-paraguay/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaco_%28Paraguay%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaco_%28Paraguay%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaco_%28Paraguay%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_peoplehttp://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maskoyhttp://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maskoyhttp://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maskoyhttp://presidencia.gov.py/http://presidencia.gov.py/http://presidencia.gov.py/http://presidencia.gov.py/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organizationhttp://presidencia.gov.py/http://presidencia.gov.py/http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maskoyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaco_%28Paraguay%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguayhttp://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/the-mennonites-of-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/the-paraguayan-chaco/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/filadelfia-paraguay/


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The indigenous I met during a visit in 2009 appeared adequately nourished and clothed.

Nevertheless, many lived in poor conditions. Their homes were constructed from cinder

block, wood, or available materials including aluminum sheeting, cardboard, tarps, and

chicken wire. Some, particularly those living near Mennonite towns such as Filadelfia,

Loma Plata, and Colonia Neuland, had access to basic services such as wells, fresh water,schools, health clinics, and community centers. Many who lived in more rural areas did

not. Most lacked electricity and telephone service.

Although theInternational Labor Organization,U.S. Department of Labor, and some

NGOs have claimed that child and forced labor occurs in the Chaco, the situation is more

complicated than analysts, many of whom have never visited the region and rely on

outdated information and indirect sources, have described it. While wages were generally

low and some employers have used unfair tactics such as restricted freedom of movement

to coerce employees, most Chaco employers in 2009 paid indigenous workers minimum

wage or more with a percentage of indigenous salaries set aside to support local

assurance associations that offered indigenous benefits such as health care. Repeatedaccusations that local employers committed child and forced labor abuses and the

increased scrutiny over ranchers treatment of the indigenous led some to substitute

indigenous workers with non-indigenous laborers, creating a situation in which labor

abuse claims contributed to indigenous unemployment.
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htmhttp://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htmhttp://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htmhttp://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/main.htmhttp://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/main.htmhttp://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/main.htmhttp://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/main.htmhttp://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm


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A pressing issue that has received little international attention because it doesnt fit neatly

into global human rights agendas is the communities chronic lack of fresh water caused

by persistent drought cycles made worse by climate change. When I visited in 2009, theParaguayan Chaco was having one of its worst droughts in recent memory with bone dry

or contaminated water tanks and reservoirs. The region had had no rainfall for more than

six months.

Although the government is responsible for providing some communities with water

storage and deliveries of fresh water, distances and drought conditions make assistance

difficult. Because most wells produce salty water suitable for agricultural purposes but

unfit for human consumption, local communities buy fresh water with the money they

earn from agriculture or rely on assistance from assurance associations for potable water.

Meanwhile, those who have advocated indigenous rights have turned a blind eye to this

pressing problem to focus on more sensationaland less urgentissues that are more

apt to receive international attention and funding. Its abundantly clear to anyone who

visits the Chaco that the biggest issue affecting the indigenous is an inadequate water

supplycomplicated by the fact that drilling wells wont solve the problem.


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The Yakye Axa and Sawhoyamaxa Exnet communities lived in arguably the bleakest

conditions of any I visited. In 2009, families from both groups were ensconced on the

shoulders of rural Highway 6 near the town of Pozo Colorado, squatting next to private

ranches that had annexed land once belonging to the indigenous. They had no local access

to water; could not drill wells because of the salty water table; had difficulty growing

crops because the sandy soil and limited space; and lacked access to electricity eventhough power lines passed overhead. The Paraguayan government delivered food and

water weekly, but water shortages forced some to drink contaminated water from open

cesspools. Some worked on private ranches for low wages and few benefits.

TheInter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), to which Paraguay is a party,ruled

that these communities had been unjustly evicted from their native lands by local ranchers

in the 1980s and held the Paraguayan government liable. In 2005, the IACHR determined

that the government had violated the rights of 64 Yakye Axa families and mandated that

it remit monetary compensation and 16,000 hectares of land. Itruled in favorof the 19

Sawhoyamaxa families in 2006 and imposed similar penalties, including a remit of

15,000 hectares of land. The Yakye Axa and Sawhoyamaxa refused to move until the

government compensated them with land.

Amnesty International reportedthat the Sawhoyamaxa families were compensated with

land in September 2011 and the Yakye Axa as well in February 2012, enabling them to

relocate, at long last, to their new homes. Paraguay, to its credit, has made efforts to

comply fully with the IACHR rulings. I was delighted to learn that the situation had been

favorably resolved for these families and hope that they no longer live in the homes

shown in the photos below.
http://cidh.oas.org/http://cidh.oas.org/http://cidh.oas.org/http://www.corteidh.or.cr/pais.cfm?id_Pais=5http://www.corteidh.or.cr/pais.cfm?id_Pais=5http://www.corteidh.or.cr/pais.cfm?id_Pais=5http://www.elaw.org/node/3840http://www.elaw.org/node/3840http://www.elaw.org/node/3840http://www.crin.org/Law/instrument.asp?InstID=1217http://www.crin.org/Law/instrument.asp?InstID=1217http://www.crin.org/Law/instrument.asp?InstID=1217http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/paraguay-land-dispute-victory-displaced-indigenous-community-2012-03-02http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/paraguay-land-dispute-victory-displaced-indigenous-community-2012-03-02http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/paraguay-land-dispute-victory-displaced-indigenous-community-2012-03-02http://www.crin.org/Law/instrument.asp?InstID=1217http://www.elaw.org/node/3840http://www.corteidh.or.cr/pais.cfm?id_Pais=5http://cidh.oas.org/


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A cattle ranch on land claimed by the Yakye

Axa.

The time I spent in the Paraguayan Chaco had a profound influence on me. It made me

appreciate life more and not take for granted what I have in abundance. I admire the

strength and fortitude of the local residents, from the Mennonites who have worked hard

to turn semiarid desert into an agriculture bread basket, to the indigenous who havestruggled to eke out a living with meager means in a harsh climate.

The Chaco is a place lost in time and unknown to most. Those who live there survive, and

even thrive, in obscurity. Its my hope that my series on the Chaco has brought this

fascinating place to life for readers who might never have given it another thought and

highlighted the triumphs and tragedies that make it the truly unique place that it is.

More about the Chaco

Filadelfia, the capital of Boquern Province and the largest town in the Chaco Mennonite communitiesin the Chaco Therural Paraguayan Chaco

How You Can Help

If you want to learn more about the indigenous in Paraguay or to lend your support,

contact the following organizations. I have no affiliation or connection with them but

know that they are dedicated Paraguayan NGOs.

Indigenous-Mennonite Cooperation Services Association

Melodia Cultural Center

Tierra Viva CODEHUPY(Coordinator of Human Rights in Paraguay) Project for the People of Paraguay
http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/filadelfia-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/filadelfia-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/the-mennonites-of-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/the-mennonites-of-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/the-paraguayan-chaco/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/the-paraguayan-chaco/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/the-paraguayan-chaco/http://www.ascim.org/english/index.php?Starthttp://www.ascim.org/english/index.php?Starthttp://www.ccmelodia.org/index.htmlhttp://www.ccmelodia.org/index.htmlhttp://www.tierraviva.org/http://www.tierraviva.org/http://www.codehupy.org/http://www.codehupy.org/http://www.projectpy.org/http://www.projectpy.org/http://www.projectpy.org/http://www.codehupy.org/http://www.tierraviva.org/http://www.ccmelodia.org/index.htmlhttp://www.ascim.org/english/index.php?Starthttp://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/the-paraguayan-chaco/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/the-mennonites-of-paraguay/http://worldadventurers.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/filadelfia-paraguay/


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Click hereto read the original post on my blog, World Adventurers.

M.G. Edwards is a writer of books and stories in the mystery,thriller and science fiction-fantasy genres. He also writes travel

adventures. He is author ofKilimanjaro: One Mans Quest to Go

Over the Hill, a non-fiction account of his attempt to summit

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africas highest mountain and a collection of

short stories calledReal Dreams: Thirty Years of Short Stories.

His books are available as an e-book and in print onAmazon.com

andother booksellers. He lived in Paraguay from 2007 to 2009

and now lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife Jing and son

Alex.

For more books or stories by M.G. Edwards, visit his web site atwww.mgedwards.comor his blog,World Adventurers. Contact him at

[email protected], onFacebook, onGoogle+, or@m_g_edwardson Twitter.

2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or

transmitted without the written consent of the author.
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Indigenous of the Paraguayan Chaco

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