Brasília, 11/25/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Indian communities throughout Brazil are participating in drawing up a Food Security and Sustainable Development Proposal for Indigenous Peoples which is to be presented to president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the near future.

The government's idea is to listen to the Indians first. So, since March there has been a total of 17 regional workshops. And during this month, the Indigenous Health Commission has been promoting conferences, meetings and seminars around the country to discuss Indian problems such as malnutrition, hunger, suicide, infant mortality and alcoholism. The gatherings have been attended by representatives of the Indian Foundation (Funai), the National Health Foundation (Funasa) and the ministries of Health and Agrarian Development.

Minister of Agrarian Development, Miguel Rossetto, declared that the Indians themselves will apply policy and build development strategies. The government's role, said the minister, is to recognize Indian community rights and make it possible for them to be exercised. (AB)