Largest Annual Meeting of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil Now Held Online

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, activist Brazilian indigenous umbrella organizations are hosting the 16th Camp for the Liberation of the Land on a virtual platform.

The “Free Land Camp” (ATL) takes place between April 27th and 30th. Indigenous peoples from all over the country meet to reinforce the struggle of their organizations.

The virtual camp is organized by the umbrella organizations Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) and Indigenous National Mobilization (MNI).

Faced with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, but also with increased invasions of their territories, more assassinations and criminalization of their leaders, the virtual meeting’s format aims to draw attention to the imminent danger of a new genocide, and denounces the negligence of President Jair Bolsonaro’s government in protecting indigenous peoples.

The event kicked off on Monday and broadcast four days of meetings, ‘pajelanças’ (shamanic healing ceremonies), songs, traditional dances, films, debates between women from different ethnic groups, as well as round tables and other forms of exchange that digitally connect people from across Brazil.

Panel discussions include topics such as “Indigenous Health and Institutional Racism”, “Indigenous Peoples in Times of Coronavirus”, “LGBTQ + Indigenous Agenda”, “Fighting Climate Change, Increasing Deforestation and Post-Pandemic Impact”, “Indigenous Rights, Violations and Authoritarianism”, “The Migration Processes of Indigenous Peoples in Acre and the Covid-19”, “Stories of the First Land Restitution in Southern Brazil”, and “International Table”.

“The alarm bells are sounding, the indigenous struggle is urgently needed and society must support this cause that is of us all,” invites Sônia Guajajará, APIB coordinator of the Kaiowá people.

Meanwhile, the murder of indigenous, environmental, and human rights activists continues. On April 18th, Ari Uru-eu-wau-wau was murdered in the Municipality of Jaru, Rondônia State. According to APIB, he belonged to the group of “guardians” and protectors of his people’s territory and had been threatened by criminals responsible for invasions and destruction in the region. There is still no information on the circumstances or the perpetrators of the crime.