The Indigenous People's Cultural Support Trust was registered on 8th November 1995 with the English Charity Commissioners and provided with the registered charity number: 1050461.

The object of the Trust is to secure financial support for projects which are developed in consultation with tribal communities and designed to promote as well as conserve their traditional knowledge and way of life.

The Trust was set up through the initiative of Emily Burridge, whose musical research in Brazil has led to increasing contact with tribal communities. During 1994 -1995 she developed a project in consultation with members of the Xavante, a tribal group from the Mato Grosso, Brazil.

The aim of this project was to provide funding for the construction of a health centre from which an educational programme in the horticulture and administration of medicinal plants could be established.

The project was awarded a match-funding grant by the English governmental agency ODA and the remainder of the funding came in the form of small grants from foundations and individuals.

During the latter half of 1997 through to the beginning of 1998, Emily organised and co-ordinated the construction of the health centre deep within the Xavante reservation. The centre is solar powered with plaques which generate energy for nine lights and a fridge for the storage of essential medicines. An added bonus is that the solar energy also supplies light within the village school.

The centre was successfully completed and inaugurated on January 11th 1998.

The centre has brought a lot of hope to this community and represents a victory in their dream towards a more independent existence.

It is the first project on this reserve to be implemented directly with the Indians. This was made possible by their organisation of an association with the village, registered at the state offices in June 1997.

In financing the project, this was a great benefit as Emily was able to work directly for this community. Independent of the normal bureaucratic corridors, she organised the construction contract and other financial negotiations on their behalf. Payments for the construction were made in installments with the largest installment on completion.

She also ensured that everyone in the village had copies of the architectural contract with a list of all the building materials. In effect it was a policy of self-policing.
100% of the financial aid reached it's intended destination and Emily has always expressed to the Chief and the community, that she would never just give them money.

Implementing the centre deep within the reserve has enabled members of this tribe to return to their old village thus alleviating the appalling over crowded conditions at the missionary village where she first stayed.

The most rewarding factor in helping these people realise their current existence is to have observed an increase in the practice of ancient traditions, songs and dances. They form an intrinsic part of their identity and aid them to live within their natural environment.

Growing Success

Adjacent to the Centre is a medicinal garden.  The concept of a medicinal garden was designed to help conserve and reinstate the value of this traditional knowledge among younger members of the tribe.

Collecting their traditional plants can involve travelling great distances and younger members have become all too familiar with the "quick fix" of pharmaceuticals and the elders assured Emily that they are on the verge of losing this knowledge.

In 1997, Emily accompanied a Xavante tribesman (the health monitor of the village), to a university in Fortaleza where he successfully completed a short course under the direct supervision of Professor Matos in the horticulture and administration of medicinal plants at the Medicinal Gardens project. The objective of the course was to introduce the concept of medicinal gardens to the Xavante.

With funds, she purchased tools necessary for the implementation of the medicinal garden and helped with the first stages of setting up the garden adjacent to the health centre. The concept of the medicinal garden has been accepted and the above photograph, of the medicinal garden area, was taken in 1999.

The aim of the medicinal gardens project is to reinstate the value of the traditional herbal medicine amongst younger members of the indigenous community.
With the medicinal plants more easily available, it encourages the younger members of the community to use them.

The aim of the elders is to develop an education programme on the reserve in the administration of the traditional plants. The centre is a focus of this vision.