Imagine living on Brazil’s smallest Indigenous territory. That is the reality for the Guarani Mbya people of Barragem Guarani Indigenous Land. This land measures just 26.3 hectares. It is home to over 600 people.
Barragem Guarani Indigenous Land is officially recognized. This recognition came through Decree number 94.223/1987. The land is registered. This registration involves both CRI and SPU.
Here at Barragem Guarani Indigenous Land the Guarani Mbya community faces significant challenges. They struggle to maintain their way of life amidst the urban sprawl of Sāo Paulo. Their traditions face threats. Real estate development encroaches. Land grabbers illegally buy and sell plots. Illegal structures appear on their land.
Despite these pressures the Guarani Mbya people persevere. They fight for their ancestral rights. They are demanding constitutional protection for their land. They are working to preserve their culture. The community actively resists actions. These actions in Brazil’s Congress and Supreme Court threaten them.
These actions could prevent Indigenous people from claiming ancestral territories. One proposal is the marco temporal. This would only recognize claims if the land was occupied in 1988. This date marks Brazil’s current constitution. Critics say this disregards the forced displacements. These displacements occurred throughout history.
But the people of Barragem Guarani Indigenous Land have not given up. They continue the practice of retomadas. Retomadas means reclaiming ancestral lands. Lands taken from them. The spirit of their ancestors guides them. For the Guarani Mbya it guarantees their continuity.
Their fight has gained national attention. Government officials have visited Barragem Guarani Indigenous Land. Sonia Guajajara is Brazil’s minister of Indigenous peoples. Joenia Wapichana heads Funai. Funai is the federal agency for Indigenous affairs. Both have offered support.
Despite promises official demarcation remains uncertain. High demand from other Indigenous claimants delays the process.
The community persists with strength. They retain their language. They keep their culture. Guarani prayer and their way of life remain alive. They wear T-shirts. The T-shirts display an Indigenous archer. The words “Jaraguá is Guarani” are printed on the shirts.
Barragem Guarani Indigenous Land stands as a symbol. It is a symbol of resilience. It represents cultural preservation. It highlights the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights in Brazil. The Guarani Mbya people continue their fight. They fight for their land. They fight for their future.