Between 24 and 28 April, indigenous people from around Brazil came together in Brasilia for the 19th Free Land Camp (Acampamento Terra Livre: ATL). This year the theme is “The indigenous future is today. Without demarcation there is no democracy!”. Over its 50 years, CESE has always stood alongside original peoples and, in 2023, has once again joined these mobilizations by helping a number of groups to attend.
In each of its 19 editions, CESE has supported groups to mobilize for the ATL. This year, a total of BRL 110,393.00 has been granted to 209 beneficiaries from dozens of peoples – Munduruku, Arapiun, Tupinambá, Pankararu, Pataxó, Tukano, Guarani, Desana, Kaigang, Xokleng and others – from six different states: Bahia, Pernambuco, Amazonas, Pará, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo.
The ATL is organized by the Association of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Articulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil: APIB) and jointly constructed with its grassroots organizations. According to the National Indian Foundation (Fundação Nacional dos Povos Indígenas: FUNAI), Brazil has approximately 680 regulated indigenous territories and more than 200 awaiting analysis for land demarcation.
In 2022, more than 8 thousand indigenous peoples from 100 different peoples and all of Brazil’s regions gathered at the ATL. Over a 10-day programme, the ATL debated tackling the anti-indigenous agenda imposed by ex-President Jair Bolsonaro and strengthening indigenous candidates for the National Congress.
Over its 50 years of existence, one of the greatest expressions of CESE’s commitment to indigenous peoples is financial support to small projects involved in the fight for resistance and the guarantee of cultural rights and territories. Over the last 15 years, 578 initiatives have been supported through the Small Projects Programme, with a total investment of BRL 5,855,541, benefiting approximately 350 thousand indigenous people.
CESE’s Projects and Training Coordinator, Antônio Dimas Galvão, stressed that support from the organization to the movement goes beyond small projects, citing specific support over three years for the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo (Articulação dos Povos e Organizações Indígenas do Nordeste, Minas Gerais e Espirito Santo: APOINME), through its Strategic Support Programme to strengthen networks, as well as a campaign in partnership with the APIB itself, which provided emergency support to indigenous peoples during the COVID-19 pandemic, from food to hospital supplies.
“We have supported local groups and more regional bodies, mobilizations and campaigns, and have provided visibility and demonstrated solidarity to causes through ecumenical missions, running training in management, communications, accounting, planning and legal support for the associations’ compliance. Since its foundation, CESE has stood alongside the indigenous movements.”
Throughout its history as an ecumenical organization, CESE has reaffirmed its commitment to indigenous peoples’ struggles for their cultural and territorial rights. In the ecumenical movement, which is its priority arena for action, it has worked to raise awareness with the churches and organizations, for solidarity with and engagement in this cause, particularly by mobilizing support in response to concrete situations of violence.