Considered the largest indigenous mobilization in Brazil, the ATL completes 18 years and will take place between 04 and 14 April 

The Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) will hold the 18th edition of the Free Land Encampment (Acampamento Terra Livre – ATL) between 4 and 14 April, in Brasília (Federal District). With the theme ‘Retaking Brazil: Demarcate the territories and Indigenize the politics, in 2022 the mobilization returns to Brasilia after two years of online activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Encampment will take place in the same period in which the National Congress and the Federal Government are voting on projects that violate the rights of indigenous peoples such as Bill 191/2020. The bill opens indigenous lands – most of them located in the Amazon – to large-scale exploitation, such as mining, hydroelectric dams and other infrastructure projects. 

On March 9, 2022, the plenary of the Brazilian Congress approved the request of the government leader for the urgent processing of PL 191/2020. It means the proposal will be analyzed by a working group and will be included for a vote in plenary between 12 and 13 April – during the ATL.

The Encampment also takes place in parallel with, climate litigation actions are also being judged by the Supreme Court that directly dialogue with indigenous claims. In addition to such climate litigation, APIB warns about the trial of the Milestone Thesis that will be resumed in the Supreme Court within this semester; and also for the Package of Destructiona set of measures planned to be voted in Congress this year and and which has the power to accelerate deforestation and weaken environmental legislation.

ATL’s Program

The ATL will have ten days of programming and over 40 activities. In addition to confronting the anti-indigenous agenda, indigenous health and education and the role of youth are some of the topics that will be part of the debates.

Expecting to mobilize more than 100 indigenous ethnics groups from all regions of the country, and adding this cultural diversity to the political demands, the first week of the camp will be marked by the debate “Indigenize the Politics: We stand for those who came before us, we stand for us and we stand for those who are to come”, which aims to strengthen indigenous women for Elections 2022. Also part of the first week’s program are plenaries on the struggle for life, impacts on the judiciary, demarcation and public policies.  

Closing the ATL, the second week’s programme will have a plenary on the LGBTQIA+ population, articulation with other social movements and a call for actions. 

Sonia Guajajara, executive coordinator of Apib says:

“Since the first days of this government we have been shouting and denouncing the persecutions against the indigenous peoples. There are innumerable threats due to the failure to demarcate our lands, in addition to deforestation and invasion of our territories. They act on two fronts: the persecutions against our leaders who oppose this misgovernment of Jair Bolsonaro; and the Congress trying to use the ink of the pen to massacre us”.

Dinamam Tuxá, executive coordinator of Apib says:

“We are in an election year and to start our journey of struggles we declare that this is the last year of the genocidal government of Jair Bolsonaro. Our Indigenous April will be marked by symbolic actions that will show our capacity in fight for demarcation and villagisation in Brazilian politics”