Indigenous territory (Brazil)

In Brazil, an Indigenous territory or Indigenous land (Portuguese: Terra Indígena [ˈtɛʁɐ ĩˈdʒiʒẽnɐ], TI) is an area inhabited and exclusively possessed by Indigenous people. Article 231 of the Brazilian Constitution recognises the inalienable right of Indigenous peoples to lands they "traditionally occupy"^{[n 1][1][2]} and automatically confers them permanent possession of these lands.

A multi-stage demarcation process is required for a TI to gain full legal protection,^[2][3] and this has often entailed protracted legal battles.^[4][5][6] Even after demarcation, TIs are frequently subject to illegal invasions by settlers and mining and logging companies.^[2]

By the end of the 20th century, with the intensification of Indigenous migration to Brazilian cities, urban Indigenous villages were established to accommodate these populations in urban settings.

Historically, the peoples who first inhabited Brazil suffered numerous abuses from European colonizers, leading to the extinction or severe decline of many groups. Others were expelled from their lands, and their descendants have yet to recover them. The rights of Indigenous peoples to preserve their original cultures, maintain territorial possession, and exclusively use their resources are constitutionally guaranteed, but in reality, enforcing these rights is extremely challenging and highly controversial. It is surrounded by violence, corruption, murders, land grabbing, and other crimes, sparking numerous protests both domestically and internationally, as well as endless disputes in courts and the National Congress.

Indigenous awareness is growing, the communities are acquiring more political influence, organizing themselves into groups and associations and are articulated at national level. Many pursue higher education and secure positions from which they can better defend their peoples’ interests. Numerous prominent supporters in Brazil and abroad have voluntarily joined their cause, providing diverse forms of assistance. Many lands have been consolidated, but others await identification and regularization. Additional threats, such as ecological issues and conflicting policies, further worsen the overall situation, leaving several peoples in precarious conditions for survival. For many observers and authorities, recent advances—including a notable expansion of demarcated lands and a rising population growth rate after centuries of steady decline—do not offset the losses Indigenous peoples face in multiple aspects related to land issues, raising fears of significant setbacks in the near future.

As of 2020^[update], there were 724 proposed or approved Indigenous territories in Brazil,^[7] covering about 13% of the country's land area.^[8] Critics of the system say that this is out of proportion with the number of Indigenous people in Brazil, about 0.83% of the population;^[9] they argue that the amount of land reserved as TIs undermines the country's economic development and national security.^{[6][10][11][12]}

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