The indigenous peoples of Roraima gathered in the central square of Boa Vista have been holding the 4th edition of the Free Land Camp (ATL) since yesterday (24), following the national mobilization that is taking place in Brasília. This year, the ATL has as its theme “the indigenous future is today – without demarcation there is no democracy”.
ATL is the largest indigenous mobilization in Brazil. A space for claiming constitutional rights and strengthening the struggle and resistance of indigenous peoples.
On Tuesday the 25th, the movement concluded its second day with a demonstration in front of the Government Palace, protesting against the Temporal Framework and demanding respect for indigenous peoples.
A plenary session was also held on the theme "Indigenous Territories – No to the Temporal Framework and Yes to Original Rights," with a presentation of the territorial situation, mainly the pending issues in the demarcation of indigenous lands, such as the indigenous lands of Anzol, Lago da Praia, Arapuá and Pirititi, in addition to the retaking of the indigenous territories of Pium, in the Tabaio region, and Manoá-Pium, in the Serra da Lua.
“We are fighting for our piece of land that we have, we live and exist for. We will continue to fight for it (the land),” said a young leader.
First day
The opening ceremony included the burning of maruai incense, traditional songs and dances, at the Ovelário Tames Memorial, a monument that pays homage to the indigenous man killed by the police at age 17 in 1988. The memorial was recommended by the Organization of American States (OAS) to the Brazilian State, which built the memorial through the Secretariat of Human Rights of the Presidency of the Republic.
The State Youth Coordinator, Raquel Wapichana, and Joterdan de Lima, a young man from the Baixo Cotingo region and member of the Macuxi people, read the ATL Charter, outlining the demands of the indigenous movement.
At the plenary session titled "The Indigenous Future is Today; Without Demarcation, There is No Democracy," leaders expressed their outrage against the invasions of their territories. Clóvis Ambrósio, coordinator of the Serra da Lua region of the Wapixana people, briefly recalled the great achievements, but also the persistent invasions, especially of territories demarcated on islands that require review.
“We have had many advances and achievements. I remember when the lands were not demarcated. We had a lot of courage to fight for that. But we want and demand the demarcation of our lands in a continuous area, because we are indigenous peoples, and I know that there is still a lot of land to be demarcated,” the traditional leader demanded.
Ludernilda Macuxi, a leader from the Raposa Serra do Sol indigenous territory, reinforced the request for the demarcation of lands located on islands. “We are the original peoples of this land. We are the guardians of our land. I ask, on behalf of the indigenous peoples, that parliamentarians review the lands demarcated on islands.”
Coordinator Alexandro Wapixana recalled that they have been fighting for years for the demarcation of the Anzol and Lago da Praia indigenous communities and appealed for the demarcation of the Indigenous Territories. “The Anzol and Lago da Praia community, which belongs to the Murupu region, has been fighting for demarcation for years. We hope that the ATL (Acampamento Terra Livre - Free Land Encampment) will bring us positive things and that it will put an end to the temporal framework.”
The movement concluded the day with a demonstration in front of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Roraima (ALE/RR).