Rousseff approves two more indigenous lands

Two presidential decrees published today (May 2) in the official gazette confirmed the administrative demarcation of two more indigenous lands, which are the Piaçaguera indigenous reserve, located in Peruíbe city, in São Paulo state, and Pequizal do Naruvôtu indigenous land, in Mato Grosso. Lands claimed for years have finally been recognized as traditional indigenous territories and the National Indigenous Policy Council has been established.

From 2011 to 2015, according to the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI), the president approved 18 indigenous lands. The years 2012 and 2015 reported the highest numbers of land's approvals, seven lands approved in each year. In 2011, three indigenous lands were approved. In 2013, only one area was settled as a traditional indigenous territory. In 2014, no land was approved.

The permanent possession of the Piaçaguera Indigenous Land with an area of 2,773 hectares was conferred to the Guarani Nhandeva indigenous group. The permanent possession of the Pequizal do Naruvôtu that measures 27,878 hectares was conferred to the Naruvôtu indigenous group.

The president also declared that a rural property of 2,300 hectares in Santa Catarina state will be expropriated in the future for purposes of social interest, to settle families of the Kaingang ethnicity.

In another decision, the Ministry of Justice declared that the permanent possession of a 33,900-hectare area of Aquidauana in Mato Grosso do Sul will be conferred to the Terena indigenous group, who claims the right of the area, named Taunay-Ipegue Indigenous Land.

After the Ministry of Justice settles an area as indigenous territory, the FUNAI may initiate to physically demarcate the area. The last phase of the administrative process to regularize the land is the president's approval.

Council

Another indigenous claim settled in the past few days was the National Indigenous Policy Council, established last Wednesday (Apr. 27). During the ceremony to swear in the Council's directors, Justice Minister Eugênio Aragão declared that "the federal government is paying a small part of its huge historical debt for the indigenous peoples." The council was created aiming to increase the indigenous participation in developing guidelines and operating Brazil's indigenous policies.

During the ceremony, the minister acknowledged that the constitutional guarantees of indigenous peoples are gravely threatened and he promised that the government will struggle to settle and approve new indigenous lands.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta