Fundação Nacional do Índio (Portuguese pronunciation: [fũdaˈsɐ̃w nasjoˈnaw du ˈĩdʒju], National Indian Foundation) or FUNAI is a Brazilian governmental protection agency for Indian interests and their culture.[1]
It was originally called the SPI ("Serviço de Proteção ao Índio"; "Indian Protection Service") and was founded by the Brazilian Marshal Cândido Rondon in 1910, who also created the agency's motto: "Die if necessary, but never kill." The agency fell into decline after 1957 and was re-established by the military regime in 1967 under the name FUNAI.
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.
Not all efforts of the FUNAI have been helpful to the indigenous populations of South America. It was FUNAI's idea to introduce machinery, pesticides (for farming) and the use of industrial fertilizer for the native people. While FUNAI initially funded the program, the shortsighted and mismanaged delivery of equipment, as well as the timing of supportive services, made the project fail. The little cash earned by the native populations was spent on specialists to operate the new machinery, oil for the machines, and toxic pesticides.[2]
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