Representatives of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), the organization coordinating the Free Land Camp (Acampamento Terra Livre) in Brasília, delivered a seven-page letter on Thursday (Apr. 9) to the Brazilian president’s General Secretariat and the Ministry of Mines and Energy. In the document, they acknowledge progress in public policies but criticize delays in the demarcation of indigenous territories.

Titled “A sovereign Brazil is one with demarcated and protected indigenous lands,” the document notes that the current government was formed with the support of the indigenous movement to “rebuild the foundations of institutionality and democracy.”

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“It is necessary to recognize that important changes have taken place during this period,” the letter states.

Among these changes, they cited the creation of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, the presence of indigenous leaders in prominent government positions, and the reestablishment of spaces for dialogue.

However, the representatives believe these actions still fall short of what is needed.

“We acknowledge progress, but it still does not address the historical urgency or the Brazilian state’s debt to our peoples.”

A climate of violence

Indigenous peoples say there is a growing trend of territorial invasions, violence, and the criminalization of indigenous communities, leaders, and organizations.

“While some institutional frameworks have been rebuilt and there have been shifts in rhetoric, the concrete protection of indigenous territories and of the lives of indigenous peoples still needs greater consistency and continuity,” the letter reads.

Indigenous peoples argue that guaranteeing public policies is a permanent obligation of the Brazilian state.

The letter calls for measures in six areas:

• demarcation and protection of territories;
• consultation, participation, and self-determination;
• budgeting and permanent governance;
• life, security, and well-being;
• climate, ecological transition, and a ban on exploitation;
• memory, reparations, and the future of indigenous peoples.

Since last Sunday (5), various indigenous ethnic groups have gathered in Brasília, the country’s capital, for the Free Land Camp. According to the organizers, approximately 8,000 individuals are camped there.

Indigenous leaders present at the Free Land Camp (Acampamento Terra Livre) demonstration in Brasília on Thursday (Apr. 9) delivered a document to representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Relations proposing the creation of zones free from oil and gas exploration in Brazil and the inclusion of indigenous territories at the center of the global climate strategy.

These fossil fuel–free zones, demonstrators say, would be areas off-limits to exploration in regions of high ecological and cultural significance.

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In general terms, the letter outlines recommendations concerning the “global roadmap” for the energy transition, which was proposed by the Brazilian government at the recent COP30 and has yet to gain consensus. “There can be no just energy transition without safeguarding our territories,” stated Dinamam Tuxá, executive coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), which organizes the rally.

The demarcation and protection of indigenous lands are concrete measures to address the climate crisis, he argued.

“By ignoring this, the world chooses to maintain a model that destroys life. Recognizing indigenous leadership paves the way for a more balanced, diverse, and truly sustainable future.”

Changes

The document signed by indigenous leaders and submitted to the Brazilian government aims to influence international negotiations and contribute to the creation of a new development paradigm.

“Addressing the climate crisis requires not only technological changes, but also a profound redefinition of the relationships between the economy, territory, and rights,” APIB reported.

The letter calls for an immediate end to the development of new oil, gas, and coal fields, as well as the creation of a binding global agreement for the phased elimination of fossil fuels.

“The climate crisis is already affecting food production, health, the economy, and the security of nations. The cost of inaction grows every day,” the organization points out. In the view of its representatives, it is essential that their territories be recognized as priority areas for climate protection and biodiversity conservation.

Examples

The entity argues that the initiative is in line with international examples – such as Ecuador’s decision to halt oil exploration in Yasuní National Park and restrictions adopted in other Latin American countries.

The proposal also emphasizes that a just energy transition depends on the full recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples – including the right to free, prior, and informed consultation.

Data presented in the document show that indigenous territories have significantly lower rates of deforestation and play a central role in protecting ecosystems and global climate stability.

Since last Sunday, the Free Land Camp demonstration has been bringing together indigenous people from various ethnic groups in Brasília. Organizers estimate around 8 thousand people are in attendance.

Brazil has surpassed its goal for children to become literate at the right age, with 66 percent of students able to read and write by the end of the second year of elementary school in 2025. The announcement was made on Monday (Mar. 23) in Brasília by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Education Minister Camilo Santana.

This percentage means that two out of every three Brazilian children who completed this stage of education last year are literate. The initial goal set by the National Commitment to Literacy for Children was to reach 64 percent by 2025.

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“We decided to make this pact for literacy at the right age to reach 80 percent of children literate in the second grade by 2030. It seemed like an impossible goal. But look - in just two years, we have already reached 66 percent,” stated the president.

Lula said he hopes the percentage of literate children will reach 70 percent next year.

“This is wonderful, because education is the most important legacy a country can give its people: a solid educational foundation. There is no example of any country in the world that has developed and whose people have achieved a dignified and respectful standard of living without first investing in education,” said the president.

Lula and Camilo Santana announced the results at the awards ceremony for the 2nd edition of the National Commitment to Literacy Seal. A total of 4,710 municipalities and 18 states were recognized, receiving awards in the gold, silver, and bronze categories.

The gold seal was awarded to eleven states and 2,274 municipalities, while six states and 1,890 municipalities received the silver seal. The bronze seal went to one state and 546 municipalities.

The seal recognizes the efforts and management initiatives of the education secretariats of the states, the Federal District, and the municipalities in formulating and implementing public policies.

Overcoming challenges

Minister Santana also celebrated the result, stating that the country’s goal is for 100 percent of Brazilian children to be literate by the end of the second year of elementary school, as outlined in Goal 5 of the National Education Plan.

According to the minister, the commitment also aims to ensure the recovery of learning for children in the third, fourth, and fifth years of elementary school, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this population.

“This commitment to ensuring children are literate does not propose a single, centralized solution for the entire country. Each state, in collaboration with its municipalities, develops its own territorial literacy policy according to its specific characteristics,” explained Santana.

In addition to the improvement in literacy rates, the minister noted that, over the last three years, school dropout rates have halved, and enrollment in full-time education has increased from 15 to 25.7 percent.