Women’s March and the Marco Temporal [Time Frame Limit] mobilize indigenous peoples across the country

September was marked by the mobilization of indigenous peoples. With approximately eight thousand participants, the Women’s March, with different ethnicities from across the country, occupied Brasília, calling for an end to violence against indigenous women and to claim their rightful place in society. The fight for rights also united women in another demonstration, this time during the voting for the Marco Temporal, by the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

The indigenous people fought against the thesis of the Marco Temporal, which was that a territory can only be considered as an Indigenous Land from a pre-established date (which is a concept considered to be unconstitutional, because the indigenous peoples are the original people of Brazil). There were also mobilizations in other parts of the country, such as Roraima. In the end, the thesis was overturned in the STF by 9 votes to 2. The fight will now be in the National Congress because the Senate has approved a bill that establishes the Marco Temporal.

Among the organizations that supported the March was Coiab (Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon). CIR (Indigenous Council of Roraima) mobilized against the Marco Temporal.

Edgar Kanaykõ – Greenpeace