According to the Brazilian representative, the federal government will create an institution by November 17th
The president (PT) announced this Sunday (2), during a visit to Aldeia Vista Alegre de Capixauã, in Santarém (PA), that the federal government will create an indigenous university by November 17th. “We are going to announce an indigenous university, because we already have an indigenous minister, the indigenous Funai, the head of indigenous health, and we lack an indigenous university”, stated Lula during the meeting with leaders of the Kumaruara people.
According to the president, the institution’s headquarters will be in Brasília, but the idea is for all states to have extensions of the university. “For kids to take the course close to where they live and not have to go to Brasília”, he explained. The agenda was attended by ministers Sonia Guajajara () and Marina Silva (Environment), as well as the president of Funai, Joenia Wapichana. During the conversation with chiefs, Lula said that the government will evaluate requests from the village in the areas of health, territorial demarcation, housing, water and energy.
The president also announced the creation of the “Minha Oca, Minha Vida” program, aimed at housing in indigenous communities, and promised to bring electricity to the region. “It won’t take long, the Minister of Mines and Energy will come here to talk to you”, he stated. In his speech, Lula highlighted the government’s commitment to the demarcation of indigenous lands, stating that “no one has ever demarcated more indigenous land than us”. The president acknowledged, however, that there is still much to be done. “Everything we do is still little, given the number of years that people have been forgotten. So we have to run more and more.”
Received with great affection at Aldeia Vista Alegre de Capixauã, in the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve. The children of the community welcomed me, and the chief Irenilce Kumaruara led us to a conversation in the village’s longhouse 💚
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— Lula (@LulaOficial)
Minister Marina Silva highlighted that this is the first time that Brazil has an indigenous minister and president of Funai, and highlighted that the government has reduced deforestation, especially in conservation units. Lula also criticized authorities in Brasília, saying that “the naked truth is that there in Brasília people don’t see you”. According to him, indigenous people have been ignored for a long time. “I came here to say that you exist, you have dignity, character and the same needs as all the Brazilian people.”
In a good-humored way, the president ended the agenda by joking with the ministers who accompanied him. “You have four months to serve the village before you leave the government and run for election,” he said.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
