The First Deputy Secretary for Indigenous Peoples of the State of Maranhão speaks about the meaning of "bringing politics to the village" and the urgency of having more Indigenous people within public decision-making institutions.
Indigenous April has a woman's face. At the 2022 Free Land Camp (ATL), the edition that came of age, it was their headdresses that set the tone for the largest Brazilian indigenous mobilization. Samantha Ro'otsitsina Xavante, Célia Xakriabá, Josi Kaingang, Nara Baré, Angela Kaxuyana, Puyr Tembé, Sônia Guajajara, Kerexu Guarani and so many other indigenous women were at the forefront of organizing the ATL, calling delegations, moderating debates and engaging in politics. One of them is Edilena Krikati, former Coordinator of the Organizations and Articulations of Indigenous Peoples of Maranhão (Coapima) and the first indigenous woman to hold the position of state secretary in Maranhão.
The newly created Deputy Secretariat for Indigenous Peoples is a victory for the indigenous movement in the state. Through organization and resilience, local organizations achieved the creation of the State System for Indigenous Peoples of Maranhão, which brings with it a series of improvements in public policies. Coming from a state in transition between various biomes and with specific concerns, Edilena spoke with the portal. from ISPN During the ATL (Acampamento Terra Livre - Free Camp). In an election year, resuming in-person activities after two years of virtual camps, the Krikati leader spoke about politics, elections, and the current indigenous struggle of the peoples of Maranhão.
What is the importance of holding the Free Land Camp every year?
The ATL is the great gathering of peoples, organizations, and our leaders from all biomes. The ATL has become an annual event. It is symbolic in reminding us of our existence, our resistance, and in guiding our spheres of government, as well as showing the Brazilian people that we are united and organized. The ATL is the largest stage for the Brazilian indigenous movement.
This year's ATL theme was "demarcating territories and settling politics." What does "settling politics" mean?
It means occupying political spaces. We understand that we need to be there. One of us needs to be there. We always placed our trust in others, but we've matured. It's a necessity to have our Indigenous representatives, to put our leaders there.
What is it like to be the first indigenous state secretary?
It's something new, a challenge, but we accept it. We are strong and courageous. It's unprecedented, the result of a collective struggle by the indigenous movement to show the government of Maranhão that specific policies are needed for us, to understand our reality, our experiences, our problems. The government couldn't act. The Deputy Secretariat now brings indigenous interests to the forefront in Maranhão. We have obstacles with the other Secretariats, since the Deputy Secretariat doesn't implement the policies, but at least we have an indigenous person there to remind us that the indigenous agenda and our needs exist. It's a milestone because I am a woman, I am indigenous, and the Secretariat is just one of the achievements [of the indigenous movement in Maranhão].
What are the others?
The creation of the State System for Indigenous Peoples of Maranhão and the Statute [of the Indigenous Peoples of Maranhão]. Along with it, the State Council for Indigenous Peoples is also created, in addition to a Fund. We have a ten-year guiding plan, with all the demands and alternatives, which can be updated every two years.
What is the reality for the indigenous peoples of Maranhão?
Maranhão is a world unto itself. We have Cerrado, Amazon, Caatinga, wetlands. Just as we have various biomes, we also have diverse peoples: in voluntary isolation, recently contacted, and re-establishing their lands. Geographically, we are in the Northeast. There are 17 Indigenous Territories, almost 50 Indigenous people. The dominant linguistic groups are Jê and Tupi. There are several problems, development projects, soy and eucalyptus plantations. The Indigenous Territories are surrounded by farms, with land tenure and social problems. The environmental situation in Maranhão is also critical.
Is there a common claim among the peoples of Maranhão?
The main concern of the indigenous peoples of Maranhão brought to the ATL (Acampamento Terra Livre - Free Land Encampment) is, besides mining, the Temporal Framework. It can affect several territories that are undergoing land regularization; even those that have been demarcated and officially recognized are at risk with the Temporal Framework. Mining on indigenous lands is also a concern because it harms our people and the environment in which we live. This is the face of Maranhão.
What are the expectations for next year?
Our expectation is that Bolsonaro will leave office and that we will elect many Indigenous representatives in the states, both state and federal representatives. And that we can truly plan for the future, to occupy and integrate politics into Indigenous territories, and to demarcate Brazilian lands. We understand that this is what we must do.