The time when this day was called "Indian Day," a prejudiced and stereotypical expression, is long gone. Today, we can say it is Indigenous Peoples' Day.
We made progress in this nomenclature thanks to our first indigenous federal deputy in Brazil, Joenia Wapichana, author of Law 5.466/19, approved in the National Congress.
Today, we highlight the growth of the indigenous population in the country. According to 2022 data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), there are more than 1 million indigenous people in Brazil. A country with 305 peoples and 274 indigenous languages. Despite all attempts at denial and even extermination, we continue to exist and resist.
Indigenous April is a month to reinforce our daily struggles. Next week, from April 24th to 29th, in Boa Vista, we will have the Free Land Camp (ATL), which has as its theme "The Indigenous future is today - without demarcation there is no democracy". Indeed, there is no democracy if there is no respect for the original peoples of Brazil.
With the achievement of space within the institutions of the Brazilian State, we can also celebrate, but we remain vigilant, fighting and resisting for a country without violence against peoples in their territories, for the demarcation of indigenous lands, and for respect for the indigenous cultural diversity of this country.
The indigenous future is today - without demarcation there is no democracy!
