Indigenous leaders met with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the role of their communities in the protection of the environment Thursday amid protests against the policies of Brazil's new far-right president.
The discussions in the Chamber of Deputies came on the second day of the Free Land Encampment, an annual three-day protest by indigenous groups held in Brazil's capital.
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Indigenous leaders met with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the role of their communities in the protection of the environment Thursday amid protests against the policies of Brazil's new far-right president.
"What is being disputed is the land," said Sonia Guajajara, an indigenous leader and former vice presidential candidate.
During an earlier meeting with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Rodrigo Maia on Wednesday, Ivan Valente, a lawmaker who is part of an indigenous lobbying group, said the president's changes were "leaving the fox taking over the chicken coop."
Guajajara told a cheering crowd that indigenous leaders will continue to oppose Bolsonaro's plans.
This year's protest is to end with a group march Friday.
An young Xakriaba indian smiles during a meeting with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
Indigenous men wait to attend a meeting with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
National Assembly member Marina Silva, a former minister of environment, attends a meeting with indigenous leaders to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
More than 1,000 indigenous people set up tents on the lawn of the congressional building Wednesday and began demonstrating against President Jair Bolsonaro's vow to encourage the expansion of mining and industrial farming in protected indigenous areas.
A Guarani man poses for a selfie while sitting in the lower house chamber in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Brazil's lower house received indigenous leaders to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment. Discussions held Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
"What is being disputed is the land," said Sonia Guajajara, an indigenous leader and former vice presidential candidate.
Bolsonaro "wants to give the indigenous territories to the United States, to foreigners, to explore our natural resources. We fight not only for our rights, our constitutional rights, but for our right to exist," Guajajara told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.
Soon after being sworn in Jan. 1, Bolsonaro transferred the authority for designating indigenous land and granting environmental licenses for businesses on indigenous reserves from the government's indigenous affairs agency to the Agriculture Ministry. He also shifted the indigenous affairs agency, FUNAI, from the Justice Ministry to a new ministry for family, women and human rights that is being led by an ultraconservative evangelical pastor.
Indigenous leaders meet with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
During an earlier meeting with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Rodrigo Maia on Wednesday, Ivan Valente, a lawmaker who is part of an indigenous lobbying group, said the president's changes were "leaving the fox taking over the chicken coop."
Maia responded by saying that he would push to undo the changes when the proposals come up for debate.
Putting FUNAI back under the Justice Ministry "seems to me the most reasonable, the most rational (decision) that guarantees more security for each one of you," Maia said.
Kayapo leader Raoni Metuktire, from left, Joenia Wapichana, the first indigenous congresswoman to be elected to Brazil's lower house, and indigenous leader Sonia Guajajara, attend a meeting with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
Guajajara told a cheering crowd that indigenous leaders will continue to oppose Bolsonaro's plans.
"We are in Brasilia to show that our resistance is strong and that our compromise with our peoples is bigger than any imposition. We are not going to accept these attacks with our arms crossed," Guajajara said.
At a gathering in 2017, police shot tear gas at indigenous protesters who fired back with bows and arrows.
An indigenous man poses for a selfie during a meeting with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
This year's protest is to end with a group march Friday.
An indigenous man films a meeting with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
An young Xakriaba indian smiles during a meeting with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
Indigenous men wait to attend a meeting with lawmakers to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)
National Assembly member Marina Silva, a former minister of environment, attends a meeting with indigenous leaders to discuss land rights and the Chamber of Deputies' role in the protection of the environment in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Discussions held in congressional chambers Thursday were occurring on the sidelines of an annual three-day protest known as the Free Land Encampment in Brasilia. (AP PhotoEraldo Peres)