Welcome Ivo!

ELAW Fellow Ivo Cípio Aureliano arrived in Eugene last weekend. He will work with us for 10 weeks this summer, collaborating with ELAW staff and other experts to advance his work protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples in the Brazilian Amazon. He will also study English at the University of Oregon’s American English Institute.

Ivo is a Macuxi lawyer with the Conselho Indígena de Roraima (Indigenous Council of Roraima, CIR) in Boa Vista, Roraima. A few weeks before Ivo traveled to Eugene, in honor of World Environment Day, CIR was recognized by Indigenous Congresswoman Joenia Wapichana for its dedication to defending Indigenous autonomy over the last 50 years.

“The biggest problem facing our communities is land rights,” says Ivo, who notes that mining operations of international companies pose enormous problems for local communities. Ivo has defended Indigenous peoples’ rights before Brazil’s Supreme Court.

Ivo’s ELAW Fellowship is funded by generous support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and a Janet Hughes Mersereau Scholarship provided by the American English Institute.

Maggie Keenan
Communications Director
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide