On the 4th December the Guarani People, celebrated the demarcation of Morro dos Cavalos Indigenous Land, with the signing of the decree approved by President Lula. This comes after more than 20 years of struggle to get their land rights recognised.
The legal recognition of their land helps guarantee the protection of the Guarani traditional way of life and 1,988 hectares of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.
For decades, the Guarani people have fought for the rights to Morro dos Cavalos Indigenous Territory and faced a legal dispute involving the State of Santa Catarina in a dispute over possession of the area, which has been traditionally occupied by the Guarani for a long time and without interruption. There has been a lot of pressure on from the real estate and tourism markets to occupy the land.
Eunice Kerexu
Kerexu Yxapyry, leader of the Morro dos Cavalos Indigenous Territory explained that “The long-awaited victory has arrived. I have much to thank Nhanderu [God or spiritual leader], my Mbya Guarani people, and all the Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples who helped us in this great struggle. There were nights and days of hard battles and many of tears. But today our tears are of happiness, our community is gathered at the opy [prayer house] for the great ceremony of thanks. Morro dos Cavalos is Guarani land, it is ours. Aguyjevete [thank you] to those who fight!”.
The demarcation of the Morro dos Cavalos Indigenous Land began in 1993, with studies to identify and delimit the area of traditional occupation of the Guarani people. In April 2008, the Minister for Justice signed the Declaratory Ordinance 771, declaring that the territory belonged to the Guarani people. Since then no progress was made until now.
In 2023, the Guarani sent decorated pens to President Lula and the Minister of Indigenous Peoples Sônia Guajajara, marking the launch of the #DemarcaYvyrupa campaign calling on the President to demarcate 12 Guarani lands. With this recent news, the total number of lands that have been demarcated are eight. The rest are still awaiting action from the President.
The Guarani people are one of the largest Indigenous Peoples in Brazil, with around 25,000 people living in 157 Indigenous Lands in the south and southeast regions. Of this total, only 47 lands have had the land regularization process completed.
