Brazil's President Lula creates two new Indigenous territories, bringing total to 10

[Judi Lynn]

It's a contrast to his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who encouraged development of the Amazon — legal and illegal — and didn't add areas designated as Indigenous lands.



Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Minister of Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajajara arrive Thursday at the closing ceremony of the 1st Ordinary Meeting of the National Council for Indigenous Policy in Brasilia.Eraldo Peres / AP


April 19, 2024, 8:40 AM CDT / Source: The Associated Press
By The Associated Press

SAO PAULO — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday announced the creation of two new Indigenous territories for Brazil, bringing the total number of new reserves during this term to 10.

The Cacique Fontoura reserve will be in Mato Grosso state and the Aldeia Velha territory will be in Bahia state. They will cover a combined total area of almost 132 square miles (342 square kilometers).

Speaking at a ceremony in Brasilia, Lula’s said Indigenous peoples should be patient as he seeks to fulfill his pledge of creating 14 new territories.

Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, had encouraged widespread development of the Amazon — both legal and illegal — and made good on his pledge to not demarcate a single centimeter of additional Indigenous land.

Lula took office in 2023 pledging to change that, but Indigenous rights activists hoped he would move faster. Last year, he demarcated six territories in April and two more in September.

More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/brazil-president-lula-creates-two-new-indigenous-territories-rcna148540