15 years with the Madiha people in Amazonia

During 15 years with the Madiha people in Amazonia, we learnt their language and gained many insights into their culture; we took part in their lives. Together with the Madiha, we saw how we could contribute to their cause. We did this particularly in places where it was important to understand both their way of life and the western Brazilian way of life.

Then we left. The planned continuation of our work by successors failed. At the same time, the last other indigenous aid organisations withdrew from the very remote region. Among the Madiha, the influence of Western-style life became increasingly stronger, money matters became more important, and with them, stays of days or weeks in the cities increased, as did the influence of alcohol, discrimination and marginalisation.

And in the last 10 years or so, more than 50 young people from this small population of just 7,000 have taken their own lives. This terrible phenomenon that the Madiha did not know in the past and now exists among them like a new, terrible, lurking threat. Last year, a government agency responsible for the region invited Frank, among others, to the Madiha area.

Then came the question: Can't you and Christiane do more again? They know and trust you, and you understand them. Frank is now working on videos and audios that will find their way to part of the Madiha via the Internet. We want to visit them privately for two months in the autumn. And what next? We don't think it can stop at one visit....

Christiane Tiss is a medical doctor who lived with the Madiha in the Brazilian Amazon from 1996 to 2009, specialising in health care, particularly drinking water treatment, dealing with tuberculosis and AIDS prevention.
Frank Tiss is a missionary pastor who lived with the Madiha people from 1994 to 2009, focusing on indigenous education, language analysis, native-language media and interreligious dialogue.