Week 3 (part 3) - Hakini

Another powerful docudrama we watched was that of Hakini.   

"Buried alive because her tribe thought she had no soul. Plucked from the grave at the last moment by her brother. Then forced to live as a social outcast for three long years until sickness and neglect brought her once again to the doorway of death...

This is the story of Hakani – whose name means "smile" – one of hundreds of children who are targeted for death each year amongst Brazil's 200 plus indigenous tribes. Physical or mental handicaps, being born a twin or triplet or being born out of wedlock – all are considered valid reasons for taking a child's life.

A growing number of indigenous people are rising up to fight this practice. But when they seek help from the government, they are told that their children are not protected by Brazilian or international law, and that preserving culture is more important than saving individual lives.

Featuring actual survivors of infanticide as well as those who have rescued them, Hakani is a powerful docudrama that tells the true story of one girl's journey to freedom and a people group's struggle to find a voice – a voice for life."

Infanticide is unfortunately a practise which goes on in some areas of the world on a more regular basis than we would like to admit.  The story of Hakini was filmed because the  tribal Brazilians wish for people to understand their culture, a culture which is heavily animistic.  Whilst they do not wish to loose the good parts of their culture many of these tribal people do  want to end practises which are not good.  However, in trying to end these terrible practises of burying children alive they have come against opposition.  This saddens me that we can value 'culture' over life.  The change in the tribal values and the push to end infanticide shows a change of world view, not a loss of culture.  The opposition to change shows a lack of understanding of the difference between world view and culture.