Brazil creates task force to unblock indigenous land demarcations

In response to the primary indigenous demand, the Brazilian government has announced the creation of a task force aimed at expediting the approval of pending land demarcation processes, subject to presidential approval. The priority lies in addressing four specific areas.

The approvals were anticipated to have been signed by the president last week. However, the government suspended the decision due to issues surrounding non-indigenous occupation in certain areas of these lands.

The pending lands have a lengthy history of demarcation disputes. These include Morro dos Cavalos and Toldo Imbu in the state of Santa Catarina, Potiguara de Monte-Mor in Paraíba state, and Xukuru Kariri in Alagoas state.

"These are political problems that also need to be addressed," stated the Minister for Indigenous Peoples, Sônia Guajajara. "We cannot proceed with approvals while disregarding the non-indigenous occupation within this territory." The task force, under the coordination of the minister, will comprise representatives from various ministries, along with the national indigenous authority Funai.

As per the government's statement, the processes for the two areas in Santa Catarina have been suspended following a recent decision by Justice Gilmar Mendes of the Supreme Court. Mendes ordered conciliation in lawsuits seeking to apply the temporal milestone thesis.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hosted the leaders on Thursday afternoon - Valter Campanato/Agência Brasil

On the other hand, the areas in Paraíba and Alagoas are home to small farmers, and the government aims to resolve the resettlement of these families before advancing with the demarcation process.

The establishment of the task force was announced to a gathering of 40 indigenous leaders representing all regions of the country participating in the 20th edition of the Free Land Camp, Brazil's largest indigenous mobilization. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hosted the leaders on Thursday afternoon (Apr. 25) at the Planalto presidential palace, in Brasília.

The meeting occurred following a large-scale march that united thousands of indigenous individuals, who proceeded through the city's central area to reach the Three Powers Square.

The 20th Free Land Camp continues until Friday (26), featuring a multitude of cultural and political activities. Approximately 10,000 indigenous individuals have gathered in the nation's capital for this annual event, hailed as the largest of its kind ever convened.