Battle for indigenous land goes on

Joênia makes her historic speech

For the first time in the history of Brazil's Supreme Court, an indigenous person rises to the podium to submit arguments.

The first is also by a woman, lawyer Joênia Batista de Carvalho of the Wapichana people.

Footage courtesy of TV Justiça

The fight to save the indigenous lands of Raposa Serra do Sol in Brazil is continuing after the country's Supreme Court delayed its final decision

Despite worldwide campaigning, including lobbying by CAFOD partner the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) and a petition of over 2,000 signatures from CAFOD’s supporters, the court has postponed a final hearing on the case.

Even though Brazil's President Lula has officially recognised Raposa Serra do Sol as belonging to the indigenous peoples after a battle lasting 30 years, it is being occupied by a group of powerful farmers.

Violence and intimidation

Despite allegations of violence and intimidation by the farmers against the indigenous population, the local state government supports the farmers and is calling on the Brazilian Supreme Court to give them a large piece of the land.

Joênia Batista de Carvalho, CIR's lawyer and a Wapichana indigenous woman, defended the rights of the communities - the first ever indigenous person allowed to submit arguments to the Brazilian Supreme Court.

She said: "We are accused of being thieves in our own land, of being invaders. We are slandered, we are discriminated against. This must come to an end.

"It falls upon this Court to enforce what we've been hearing for a long time - that traditional indigenous lands go well beyond mere houses.

"Many people do not know that indigenous lands cannot be characterised only by dwellings. They also include areas where people fish, hunt, walk, maintain sacred places, where we maintain spirituality, where our culture is maintained."

One of the judges in the case, Judge Carlos Ayres Britto, gave his support to CIR's case, emphasising that the Brazilian Constitution guarantees indigenous land rights, and that indigenous communities of Raposa Serra do Sol are the original occupants of the territory.

He also said territories such as Raposa Serra do Sol which border other countries are not incompatible with national security, as the military have claimed.

Brazil’s attorney general also spoke in favour of maintaining the boundaries of Raposa Serra do Sol as promised by the President.

But, despite this support, the court was adjourned at the request of another judge, and a final ruling is now expected later this year.

Clare Dixon, CAFOD’s head of Latin America, says: "Many thanks to all those who signed the petition - your support has helped raise the profile of this case, and has played a vital role in CIR's case.

"Please remember the people of Raposa Serra do Sol in your prayers. Be assured that the struggle will go on to secure the land which is rightfully theirs."