Brazil’s indigenous people win historic victory to protect their lands
In Brazil, indigenous peoples recently won an important victory before the Supreme Court. After a long trial started in 2021, the Court rejected the “time frame” thesis defended by the agro-trading lobby. This decision significantly strengthens the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, in direct opposition to the economic interests of farmers.
This victory is of great importance to indigenous populations, particularly those in the Amazon region. Indeed, the reserves allocated to indigenous people play an essential role in the fight against deforestation and global warming. They are considered natural ramparts in the preservation of biodiversity and the protection of the Amazon forest ecosystem.
This decision by the Supreme Court is a response to the threats and criminalization that indigenous peoples have suffered in recent years, particularly under the mandate of ex-far-right president Jair Bolsonaro. It is also a strong signal to the current government led by left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, calling for progress on the demarcation of indigenous lands.
The “temporal framework” thesis, supported by the agro-business lobby, proposed recognizing as legitimate lands for indigenous peoples only those that they occupied or claimed before the promulgation of the Constitution in 1988. However, the indigenous peoples stressed that certain territories had been taken from them, notably during the last military dictatorship.
This Supreme Court decision puts an end to the legal uncertainty surrounding the recognition of indigenous lands. It reaffirms that the debt of Brazilian society to indigenous peoples is impossible to ignore. In addition, it opens the way to greater protection of their rights and their lands.
Consensus must now be found on outstanding issues, particularly regarding potential state compensation for owners of land that becomes reserves in the future. This requires careful consideration to find solutions that are fair to all parties involved.
In conclusion, this victory before the Supreme Court of Brazil is an important step in protecting the lands of indigenous peoples. She underlines the importance of preserving biodiversity and fighting against global warming. Hopefully, this decision will inspire other nations to give greater consideration and respect to the rights of indigenous peoples and the preservation of their ancestral lands.