The Amazon Rainforest of Brazil is home to hundreds of Indigenous tribes and peoples; including many such tribes that have managed to remain completely isolated within their lands and in complete synchronicity with nature. In turn, these indigenous peoples have protected and cared for the Amazon with the utmost love and respect. This harmonious relationship has been continuously threatened by the destructive actions of deforestation, over consumption of resources, and forced indigenous displacement of these peoples. Despite the many years of indigenous struggles and achievements of the APIB (Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil) towards indigenous recognition and support, Brazil’s current political situation poses another threat to their rights.
The Marco Temperal, also known as the Time Frame, is a legal thesis proposing that only territories physically occupied on October 5, 1988 (when Brazil’s constitution was signed and enacted) can be legally recognized and demarcated. This thesis refuses to account for the 500+ years of forced displacement from their lands prior to this date; meaning many tribes would be denied the rights to their history and homes. Moreover, any currently recognized and protected lands could also be challenged for re-review and have their approved demarcations removed. This would leave them vulnerable to harmful actions of environmental destruction. This thesis was brought to the Supreme Court of Brazil for discussion and ruling, which led to many APIB organized protests and a call to action from the indigenous peoples of Brazil. Thankfully, on September 27, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the thesis, notating the Marco Temperal as unconstitutional. Although this is a great victory for all indigenous peoples, the struggle does not end here.
At the same time that the Marco Temperal has been subject to supreme court ruling, the Bill PL 2903 (previously known as Bill PL 490/07) was passed by congress and then again by the Senate on September 27, 2023. This bill, largely based on the ideals of the Marco Temperal, is an even greater threat to Indigenous peoples of Brazil and the Amazon Rainforest herself. Bill PL 2903 is now currently under presidential review; President Lula must decide whether to approve or veto (in part or full) the bill by October 18, 2023. If passed, this would deny demarcation claims, remove any protections on these lands, and allow illegal actions of mining, destructive agricultural practices/industries, exploitation of resources without prior informed consent from the tribes. This would allow large organizations to question indigenous claims as well as promote the acculturalization of the indigenous peoples. What is the proposed result of all this though?
Without the protections of recognized demarcation of indigenous lands, the deforestation of the Amazon and loss of resources will only increase. This not only affects those indigenous peoples of Brazil, or even just South America itself, but the entire world in its fights against the climate crisis. The Amazonian Rainforest is one of the last, and largest carbon sinks in the world, absorbing the brunt of excessive carbon emissions. In Brazil, Indigenous peoples have retained 99% of their native vegetation from 1990 to 2020. This is in stark contrast to privately held lands, which have lost 20.6% of their forests in that same period. Without the Amazon, we as a collective people cannot effectively fight against climate change. On a smaller scale, the amount of destruction has already made it extremely difficult for indigenous peoples to live on the land that they so lovingly protected and honored for years. The extreme changes of environment has led to a dwindling of available and sustainable resources, forcing these indigenous peoples to rely on modern sources and practices just to survive. But at what point, if this pattern continues, will the resources run out for everybody? At what point will the land be so decimated that it cannot sustain or provide for anyone anymore? Now is the time to let go of the need to consume and instead focus on nurturing our connection with the Earth, expressing our gratitude for what she provides, and connecting with the wisdom required to sustain a healthy relationship with her.
President Lula has a very important decision to make. The indigenous peoples of Brazil and allies have come together to demand that Lula stand behind his previous open support of those indigenous cultures and veto this bill. Lula has openly supported them in the past and has made international commitments to socio-economic agreements and reforms; Brazil as a country has committed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and Lula himself stated that he would work towards eradicating deforestation by 2028. The current situation is an opportunity for those involved to show their commitment to the promises they have made. However, beyond the decisions of these political figures, we have all been given a wonderful opportunity to take a look at how we treat and interact with indigenous cultures all around the world. In what ways have they influenced our lives, families, lands, and relationships? They so often play a crucial role in our lives in subtle, miraculous ways that we have often become so accustomed and oblivious too. It is the greatest ability of every person to consciously and actively experience gratitude for all that we have in life, and to do what we can to be a contribution to the world. So what can be done to help those who are so often disenfranchised by systematic injustice?
The first, and most important thing we can do as individuals, is to listen. To choose to connect with and learn about the lives, experiences, and struggles that we as a collective people deal with. To choose awareness and to share this information with the loved ones in our lives. The more we consciously connect with what happens to our peoples and our planet, the more empowered we are to support and love each other. Another way we can take action is by spreading awareness beyond our immediate circles, and choosing to support and vote for those disenfranchised peoples. When we use the voice, reach, and resources that we have to support indigenous peoples, we amplify their unparalleled wisdom in the conversation of sustainability. This can be as simple as voting with our dollars by choosing local and sustainably made products that support our tribes, voting within our communities in favor of leaders and regulations that uphold traditional indigenous peoples and values, and participating in native cultures in respectful ways.
Follow ABIP on Instagram (@abipoficial) or go to their website https://apiboficial.org/marco-temporal to learn more about the indigenous tribes of Brazil and the current stance of the Bill PL 2903. Take some time to post, tag, and share your support on social media, to further the reach of the indigenous demand for President Lula to veto the bill, in full. Increase the visibility of these posts by using hashtags #MarcoTemporalNo!, #AntidemarcationOpinionNo!, #IndigenousLivesMatter, #NoMarcoTemporal, and #PL2903.
Here an email template to send to President Lula, urging him to veto Bill Pl 2903:
https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fact.survivalinternational.org%2Fpage%2F129255%2Faction%2F1%3Flocale%3Den-US%26fbclid%3DPAAaZj4XoXJEttgQak36-faCUotL0a5m9gO2u49gPL_D4iVbObCeuA3GAPxjU_aem_Ad9Vds83p4paoylaIPKwb_CDQI-BaX9e3uqfLRvoXas4gRs92C9RgmpvOlCIR-Nu4n4&e=AT2CNRNnH6m9WI1XU5qbobRsV0f4S7RuRN5xzH7kY6mXWaiU3dW5xZlVRLOSB3coZ-fLDjNCtjcLnHTpxh353uCJhE-KmQ5ueRsV2pd50P86yUURIh10So7C7WbKZ9QQDgMe5sBkczfAHhphqwLA-7g
Written by Savana LeBaron
Sources:
Will Brazil’s Supreme Court rule against Indigenous land rights? (commentary)
https://apiboficial.org/marco-temporal
https://www.echo.net.au/2023/10/struggles-for-indigenous-rights-a-tale-of-two-nations/
