Government should regularize six new indigenous lands in April,

The Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, announced that she plans to ratify six more indigenous lands by the end of April, the month in which Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated.

The statement was given on Wednesday (10) to the press during an event called Skoll World Forumwhich brings together social entrepreneurs in Oxford, England.

“We still have a very large liability of territories to be recognized. In one year of government, we managed to ratify 8. We presented 14 areas at the beginning of the government, ready to be ratified. We are working so that by the end of April we can meet this goal” , said Sonia Guajajara in England.

The resumption of demarcations, which were paralyzed during the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government, is one of the main demands of the indigenous movement, which supported Lula (PT) in the elections.

The delay in regularizations generated pressure from indigenous organizations on the PT administration. The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) promised to increase charges to the government in 2024.

Government fulfills promised number of approvals

With the six new approvals announced, the number of indigenous areas regularized during the Lula (PT) administration should rise to 14, the same number scheduled for regularization at the beginning of the government.

These 14 territories together total more than 8,400 km² — more than five times the city of São Paulo (SP).

According to the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA), around 30% of Brazil’s 676 indigenous lands have not yet been approved and are in earlier stages of the demarcation process.

Homologation, carried out by means of a presidential decree, is the last step in the process of regularizing an indigenous land.

Once the land is approved, indigenous people will be able to fully and exclusively enjoy natural resources, as provided for in the Constitution.

In April 2023, President Lula approved the following indigenous lands: Arara do Rio Amônia (AC), of the Arara people, Kariri-Xocó (AL), of the Kariri-Xocó people, Rio dos Índios (RS), of the Kaingang people, Tremembé from Barra do Mundaú (CE), from the Tremembé people, Avá-Canoeiro (GO), from the Avá-Canoeiro and Uneiuxi people (AM), from the Maku Nadëb people.

A new round of approvals in September regularized two other indigenous lands: Acapuri de Cima (AM) and Rio Gregório (AC).

Indigenous movement demanded government

Apib coordinator, Kleber Karipuna, said in February to Brazil in fact that the indigenous movement intended to increase demands on the Lula government, even though it had supported the government in the elections.

“Former minister Flávio Dino left [do Ministério da Justiça] without ratifying any Indigenous Land Declaratory Ordinance, even with Funai and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples forwarding more than 30 processes to the Ministry of Justice”, complained Kleber Karipuna.

One of the reasons for Apib’s dissatisfaction was the delay in ratifying indigenous lands that were already free from legal disputes.

“We support this government [Lula], but we are fully aware that it is a composite government and is not 100% aligned with our flags. There are ministers who oppose certain indigenous agendas. We will continue the dialogue, but the scenario will be more demanding”, said the leader of the largest indigenous organization in the country.

After approval

Homologation is the final stage of the long demarcation process, which usually lasts for decades. For indigenous peoples, the presidential signature means full rights over land: permanent possession and exclusive use of natural resources, in addition to facilitating access to public policies and enabling the pacification of violent disputes through the expulsion of invaders.

Toya Manchineri, general coordinator of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab), said in September to Brazil in fact who considers the demarcations a victory. After approval, the challenge is to increase supervision against invaders and environmental criminals.

“Every indigenous person who lives in a territory that awaits recognition and demarcation experiences insecurity: conflicts in the region and an uncertainty about the guarantee of that space for raising children and the continued well-being of each community. Now it is also necessary to guarantee the protection and surveillance of these lands, to prevent invasions and environmental crimes”, he stated.

Editing: Matheus Alves de Almeida