Lula approves 3 new indigenous lands in Ceará

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva approved three Indigenous lands in Ceará on Wednesday, the 6th. He signed the decrees recognizing the areas on the final day of the 1st National Conference of Indigenous Women, which brought together approximately 5,000 participants from approximately 100 indigenous peoples across Brazil in Brasília.

The following lands were recognized: Pitaguary, Lagoa da Encantada, and Tremembé de Queimadas. Lula stated that recognizing these ancestral lands will restore autonomy to the indigenous peoples of these regions.

"Now it's time to create the conditions so you can make the best use of that land and continue raising your families," Lula declared. "You need to take advantage of our government. I'm certain we're the best chance the indigenous peoples of this country have to secure their lands."

With the new acts, the total number of indigenous lands approved since 2023 has risen to 16. According to the Planalto Palace, the government has exceeded the commitment made during the transition period, which provided for 14 approved areas.

The three new Indigenous lands are included in the technical cooperation agreement signed in 2023 between the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI) and the Ceará state government. The approval is the final phase of the demarcation process, which began in 2024, and precedes the registration of the areas in the name of the federal government at a notary's office.

Upon signing the decrees, Lula praised the Indigenous peoples' resilience in the face of the slow pace of demarcation processes. "You, with patience, suffer, endure hardship, endure cold, heat, hunger, and you don't give up. It's something that makes me very proud: your ability to resist in this country," he declared.

Minister Sônia Guajajara described the approvals as "another historic and important moment in President Lula's administration." Funai president Joenia Wapichana advocated for the continuation of indigenous policies. "Under your administration, President, we made progress in demarcation and in recognizing Funai's role."

Details

Inhabited by approximately 290 indigenous people of the Tremembé ethnic group, the Tremembé de Queimadas Indigenous Land is located in the municipality of Acaraú. The indigenous land was declared the permanent possession of the aforementioned people by an ordinance from the Ministry of Justice published in the Official Gazette of the Union in April 2013.

Spanning the municipalities of Maracanaú, Pacatuba, and Maranguape, the Pitaguary Indigenous Territory is home to 2,940 Pitaguary indigenous people. Permanent possession was declared in December 2006.

Inhabited by 340 Jenipapo-Kanindé Indigenous people, the Lagoa Encantada Indigenous Land is located in the municipality of Aquiraz. Permanent possession was declared in February 2011.