In Brazil's Amazon, these indigenous manu warriors are marking
the borders of their ancestral lands with signs that read
federal government, Sua Mau territory protected land. It's
been a decade since the manu cleared their territory's borders
enough time for the world's largest rainforest to erase their
work. It's a tough job. And one that
Chief Juarez saw says is the government's responsibility. This
is not our job. It's the government's obligation to
demarcate indigenous lands but they are not doing it.
We have been struggling to protect this land for 25
years but we are continuing to demarcate it. It
is already demarcated and we continue to clean the borders
to keep them alive. The formal demarcation of an
indigenous territory is a crucial step in securing the protections
guaranteed in Brazil's constitution, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula
da Silva vowed to resume the process of recognizing new
reservations which had been halted under his predecessor, Jer
Bolsonaro. Since taking power, Lula's government has recognized
10 new reservations. 62 indigenous territories are waiting for
his signature and about 200 more are under study or
with defined borders but still unprotected by the government.
Brazil's Indigenous Affairs agency says it is short staffed but
is working to establish the boundaries. But Lula's promises
have drawn backlash from groups that say more roads,
railways and power plants are needed in the Amazon to
generate jobs. The soar mau territory includes some 690
square miles of jungle on the banks of the Tapajos
river. One of Brazil's only major rivers without a
hydroelectric dam. In 2016, an 8000 megawatt project
that could have flooded most of the territory was shelved
by Brazil's Federal Environmental Agency for failing to consult the
mander or provide proper impact studies. They also face
an indirect threat from government plans to build a 620
mile railway for grain exports backed by farmers and multinational
grain traders. Indigenous leaders fear the project could make
access easier. The territory has also faced rising invasions
from illegal loggers and gold miners. Activist and tribe
member, Alessandra Manco says the lack of demarcation encourages
them. We are not giving up the ministry of
indigenous peoples. Often the government governments enter and leave
. They have an obligation to look at us,
an obligation to look at the indigenous people. We
are not begging here, we are just wanting our
rights and that is always our right, especially land --> .