Federal Government and Kayapó people discuss the sustainable future of the territory

Listening to and respecting the autonomy of Indigenous peoples within their territory formed the foundation of the dialogue promoted by the Brazilian Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (Ministério dos Povos Indígenas/MPI) with over 100 Kayapó leaders last Thursday (February 1) in Tucumã, in the state of Pará. The meeting was part of the disintrusion process in the Kayapó Indigenous Land (TI Kayapó/PA), carried out by the Federal Government in compliance with a Supreme Federal Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal /STF) ruling.

During the gathering, in addition to the MPI team, officials from the Civil House briefed the Kayapó leaders on how the security operation to remove invaders from the Indigenous territory will unfold. Most of the intruders engage in the economic exploitation of the land, especially in illegal gold mining, leaving behind a trail of environmental destruction. A total of 274 hectares of the Kayapó Indigenous Land is currently affected by illegal mining.

As a result of the meeting, priority was given to promoting a sustainable future for the more than 6,000 Indigenous people with usufruct rights over the territory, through initiatives focused on livelihoods, environmental stewardship, security, and the protection of cultural heritage.

Representatives from the Tuto Pombo, Kranhmenhti, Pore Kayapó, Angrôkere, and Piokrere associations reaffirmed the Indigenous peoples’ right to leadership in the management of their territories. They emphasized the importance of the Environmental Management Plan as a key instrument for territorial protection and Indigenous governance.  Launched at the end of 2024, the Environmental and Territorial Management Program for the Kayapó Indigenous Land outlines guidelines for territorial governance and the development of sustainable economic alternatives.

In the same spirit, Marcos Kaingang, MPI’s National Secretary for Indigenous Territorial Rights, underscored the government’s respect for the autonomy of Indigenous peoples: “We did not come here to impose solutions. We came to listen, build together, and respect Indigenous autonomy.

Representing the Civil House, Nilton Tubino, the general coordinator of the disintrusion operation, highlighted the importance of enforcing judicial decisions. The Disintrusion Operation in Kayapó Territory is a measure ordered by the STF. “Our goal is to remove illegal miners, along with their equipment and materials used to destroy the forest, and return the Kayapó people’s land to them,” he emphasized.

This is the eighth disintrusion operation carried out by the Federal Government under STF orders. Around 20 federal agencies are involved in operations inside and around the Indigenous territory, tackling illegal activities and protecting the communities. The Federal Government remains committed to a future free from illegal exploitation on Indigenous lands.