President of Brazil Lula de Silva is now making the decision on whether to recognize Raposa-Serra do Sol, located in Roraima, as indigenous territory. The area covers nearly 1.7 million hectares and is home to 12,000 Indians, including members of the Makuxi, Wapixana, Ingariko, Taurepang and Patamona tribes. The survival of these groups is threatened by chemicals used by rice farmers, contamination of drinking water from mining activity, depletion of game by cattle ranchers, and diseases introduced by outsiders.
