A Historic Victory: The Demarcation of the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land and the Resilience of the Munduruku People

The signing of the declaratory decree for the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Land (TI) in Pará, in September 2024, marked a historic victory for the Munduruku people.After decades of persistent struggle, the official recognition of more than 178,000 hectares by the Ministry of Justice is an achievement that celebrates Munduruku resilience and autonomy, and consolidates itself as a crucial milestone for the protection of the Amazon. For activist Alessandra Korap Munduruku, the achievement symbolizes the essence of her struggle."The importance of the territory for us is all of life: the river, the forest, the children who depend on it, the animals and the seeds, which are the cure for our bodies," she stated.

The Munduruku people's journey of resistance dates back decades, with the formal demarcation process beginning in 2004. For years, they faced constant threats from gold miners, loggers, and land grabbers, as well as large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the hydroelectric complex on the Tapajós River. Faced with the State's delay, the community opted for self-demarcation, assuming the responsibility of protecting their lands and physically demarcating them, showing the world that the official decision was merely a formality for a territory that was already theirs.

To ensure their voices were heard, the Munduruku created the Munduruku Consultation Protocol, a fundamental tool for their autonomy.

"Ele dificultou a entrada do governo e garantiu que nós sejamos consultados do nosso jeito, não do jeito deles", explicou o cacique Juarez Saw Munduruku. O protocolo fortaleceu a resistência local e garantiu que as comunidades fossem consultadas em todas as decisões sobre seu território e modo de vida, barrando projetos predatórios e a violação de seus direitos.

Women's leadership was a decisive factor in this struggle. Leaders such as Maria Leusa Munduruku and Alessandra Korap played crucial roles, mobilizing the community, articulating political actions, and promoting women's autonomy. Their work, supported by associations such as Pariri and Wokoborun, has boosted territorial monitoring projects and the production of traditional medicines, reducing economic dependence on illegal mining.

“We face many challenges, but we continue to fight,” said Maria Leusa, who, along with Rozeninho Saw Munduruku, received the United Nations Equator Prize for their resistance against hydroelectric dams.

"O Fundo Casa foi como uma mãe para nós", destacou Maria Leusa, reforçando que a parceria viabilizou expedições de autodemarcação, encontros e o desenvolvimento de projetos que fortaleceram a autonomia do povo Munduruku. A gestora de programas do Fundo Casa, Maíra Krenak, enfatizou a importância da demarcação de terras indígenas para a sobrevivência física e espiritual desses povos, além de proteger a floresta contra o desmatamento e outras atividades predatórias.

A strategic partner in this long journey has been the Casa Socioambiental Fund. The relationship, which spans more than 18 years, has demonstrated the power of flexible and continuous support.

The demarcation of the Sawré Muybu Indigenous Territory is a historic victory for the Munduruku people, but the struggle is far from over. Chief Juarez warns of the need to demarcate other territories and to resist new threats in the National Congress, which attempt to weaken indigenous rights. The story of the Munduruku, an example of community organization, perseverance, and political articulation, serves as inspiration and proof that it is possible to confront powerful economic interests and protect, at every step, not only a territory but also the future of the Amazon and the planet.