Supreme Court revokes recognition of indigenous areas

The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) released today (Oct 23) a note expressing their concern over the rulings from the 2nd Panel of the Federal Supreme Court, which invalidated documents from the Ministry of Justice recognizing territories occupied by indigenous peoples in the states of Maranhão and Mato Grosso do Sul.

Dom Leonardo Steiner, CNBB Secretary-General and auxiliary bishop in Brasília, who worked with aboriginals in São Félix do Araguaia, northern Mato Grosso, said that these court decisions are a step backwards also for already-demarcated areas. “We'll appeal to the Federal Supreme Court for dialogue, because the indigenous situation needs our attention,” he said.

The documents invalidated recognized an area called Guyraroká Indigenous Land, which belongs to the Guarani-Kaiowá people, in Mato Grosso do Sul, and another territory, named Porquinhos Indigenous Land, of the Canela-Apãnjekra people, in Maranhão.

“To question the indigenous land demarcation by the Judiciary Power has been a strategy adopted [by the economic forces] in an attempt to slow down or paralyze the actions aimed at ensuring native peoples' access to their traditional territories. […] To conclude the process of indigenous land demarcation is to settle a historic debt with the first inhabitants of our country and declare peace where bitter conflicts have arisen, making countless victims,” CNBB's note reads.

Last week, nearly 50 Guarani-Kaiowá people set up camp next to the building of the Supreme Court to show the precarious conditions in which they have been living in Mato Grosso do Sul, occupying improvised huts. The Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi), connected with CNBB, has appealed in an effort to reverse the court ruling.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira