Lula's transition team announces Ministry for Indigenous Peoples

Brasilia, November 11 (RHC)-- The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), communicated this Thursday the publication, by the government transition team of the ordinance that establishes the new Ministries and confirms the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples.

In this sense, the first indigenous federal deputy elected by Sao Paulo, Sonia Guajajara, pointed out that the publication of the ordinance does not mean the confirmation of the new ministry, but the indigenous leaders cited to assume the portfolio take for granted the implementation of the proposal.

She added that the measure paves the way for the newly elected president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to create a ministry focused exclusively on indigenous affairs, a historic milestone in a country where indigenous people have been denied their rights since colonization.

According to the leader, the ordinance signed last Tuesday, November 8, formalized the transition team of the federal government, in addition to creating 31 thematic groups that will work in the next two months.  It is worth noting that the National Indian Foundation (Funai), currently under the Ministry of Justice, could be transferred in its entirety to the new portfolio or divided between the two.

In any case, the fight this measure will guarantee the budget, autonomy and strengthen the participation of indigenous people in other instances of government.