The celebration was triple when the result of the Unified National Public Competition (CNU) was released. Francisco de Assis, Daiana dos Santos, the wife, and Elisângela de Assis, the sister, were approved for vacancies at the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai). The brothers are from the Pankararu ethnicity, and Daiana is from the Atikum-A ethnicity ..
“Happiness in the family was great. The three approved in the immediate vacancies for the body that watches us. We want Funai’s restructuring, we have been fighting in the movement for a long time, ”said Francisco.
According to Funai itself, it is the first time a contest for the agency has been held with reserve of vacancies for indigenous people. Of the total of the 502 vacancies offered, 30% must be filled by indigenous candidates. The goal is to ensure greater diversity and inclusion, as well as strengthen the organ. According to Funai, 9,339 indigenous people signed up for the evidence that took place on August 18, 2024.
Franciso Manoel de Assis Filho, celebrated the approval for Funai. Photo: Franciso Manoel de Assis Filho/Personal Archive
Francisco was first for specialized indigenous – Agronomist. He is finalizing his doctorate and currently works as a rural extensionist at the Pernambuco Agronomic Institute (IPA). For him, approval at Funai means much more than just taking a public office.
“We are from the indigenous movement, know the claims, know the reality of Funai. It is not a matter of just becoming a federal public servant, but of contributing to the entity that, in fact, assists us, and that is competent for all claims, ”he said.
The expectation now is “trying to help as much as possible, within our expertise area, grate daily and give the best of us.”
Years of study
The family lives in an area – Pankararu Taboa – which is between Petrolândia (PE) and the Brejinho da Serra village, and where Francisco is one of the leaders. From the village to the city of Petrolândia is about 18 km.
Daiana, Francisco’s wife, was approved in 43rd place as a specialized indigenous – any area of knowledge. “Honestly, the chip has not yet fallen even though I saw the result, so much so that I didn’t even disclose yet,” he said.
Daiana Gonçalves dos Santos is a bachelor of nursing and indigenous health specialist. Photo: Daiana Gonçalves/Personal Archive
She is a bachelor of nursing and indigenous health specialist. “Many communities are unassisted by lack of staff. Because I already have experience in indigenous health and love working with our communities I was sure that, being a servant of Funai, I will be all my professional life working with what makes me happy, helping my people and my indigenous relatives, regardless of the ethnicity that I will work. ”
The couple have a 4 year old son and are now waiting for the call and definition of where they will work. They hope to be able to be close to the village and family.
Elisângela Silva de Assis is a bachelor’s degree in Agronomic Engineering. Photo: Elisângela Silva de Assis/Personal Archive
A family member will also be in the same organ, Elisângela, who is Francisco’s sister and lives next to the couple in Petrolândia. Like her brother, she was approved for the place of specialized indigenous – agronomist, and was fifth. “It was gratifying, because besides being able to exercise the profession of formation in the organ that assists us, I can help our people and relatives. I was happy to see the result of years dedicated to study, agriculture and our people, ”he says.
Bachelor of Agronomic Engineering, she believes it was the knowledge acquired throughout her career that enabled her approval. “I always try to be up to date in my professional area and in all currents, because knowledge is the only thing no one will take from you, besides being a life transformative.”
Funai is special for Elisângela.
“It is the organ that represents us, which watches us as indigenous people, guarantees the preservation of our territories, culture, customs, way of life of each indigenous people of the country. I chose Funai in order to work for my people and relatives of other ethnic groups, helping to restructure it, which is vital to guarantee our rights. ”
Funai Restructuring
Funai undergoes a process of restructuring after the government of Jair Bolsonaro. During this period, the Foundation lost acting capacity and received criticism of positions that were not favorable to indigenous peoples.
In 2023, already under the government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Funai even apologized to the families of indigenous Bruno Pereira and journalist Dom Phillips, murdered In June 2022 in the Javari Valley, Amazonas, by a statement issued by the agency in the same month. According to Funai herself, the note threatened the union of indigenous peoples of the Javari Valley (Univaja) of judicial process and brought a Series of untruths against Bruno and Dom.
In 2024, a working group (WG) was instituted for the restructuring of the organ and positions. According to the Foundation is the first time, in 56 years that a working group instituted for this purpose is composed of Funai servers, representatives of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, indigenous organizations and union entities representing the servers.
Reserve registration
Graduated in Nutrition, Ezaul Santos hopes to be called in the reserve register. Photo: EZAUL SANTOS/PERSONAL FILE – EZAUL SANTOS/PERSONAL FILE
For Ezaul Santos, from Nukini ethnicity, in Mâncio Lima (AC), the calling of the indigenous people will help transform Funai.
“This fight for space was very important, even for the indigenous themselves to occupy a space that is yours. A space to work with the people of your villages, the people in your region. Who knows our regions, who knows our villages, is us, ”he said.
EZAUL, who has a degree in Nutrition and Sciences, was in 57th place for specialized indigenous – any area of knowledge, which put it in the reserve register. Currently he works in the Special Health Health District of Indigenous Health Alto Rio Juruá, Ministry of Health.
“It is certainly entering a very skilled guys, very skilled indigenous people who had to leave their villages to graduate, which will be giving return to the federal public service today.”
EZAUL and the other classifieds within the reserve register are mobilizing by calling. They argue that Funai needs employees, as proven in the work done by the WG. “The reserve registration will be very important because only the vacancies offered will not supply even half of the demand presented today by the institution.”
