Fundação Nacional do Índio

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Fundação Nacional do Índio (FUNAI or Funai) is the Brazilian National Indian Foundation, or protection agency for Indian interests and their culture. It was originally called the SPI or Indian Protection Service. Its first director was Marshal Cândido Rondon, who created the agency's motto, "Die if necessary, but never kill."

Presently FUNAI is headquartered in Brasília and is organized under the Ministry of Justice. It is responsible for taking care of the Native Brazilian issues such as land demarcation, defense of Native Brazilian rights and everything that concerns the Brazilian indigenous populations.

The SPI ("Serviço de Proteção ao Índio" - Indian Protection Service) was founded by the Brazilian Marshal Cândido Rondon in 1910. The agency fell into decline after 1957, and was re-established by the military regime in 1967 under the name FUNAI.

[edit] See also

• Cândido Rondon
• Indigenous peoples in Brazil
• Mercio Pereira Gomes
• Sydney Possuelo
• Celso Brandao

[edit] External links

• (Portuguese) FUNAI official site
• (Portuguese) Ministério da Justiça
• (Portuguese) Text of the 1967 law authorizing the creation of FUNAI
• CNN: 'Uncontacted tribe' sighted in Amazon

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