TERRITORIAL CONFLICTS IN INDIGENOUS LANDS DURING THE BOLSONARO GORVERNMENT

Abstract

This article aims to highlight and analyze the exponential increase in territorial conflicts in Brazil involving indigenous lands. To do so, we analyzed the years from 2019 to 2022, which represent the federal government under Jair Messias Bolsonaro. This government meant the dismantling of various indigenous policies and the weakening of Funai, which began operating against these peoples. However, territorial conflicts are a historical problem that began with the colonization process based on the invasion, exploitation, and expropriation of indigenous peoples. Colonization brought with it significant territorial inequality in Brazilian agrarian areas, characterized by large landholdings, which persists to this day. To understand how territorial conflicts are expressed, it is necessary to conceptualize both territory and conflict. To analyze territorial conflicts involving indigenous lands, we used data provided by the Comissão Pastoral da Terra (CPT) – Pastoral Land Commission – and the Conselho Indigenista Missionário (CIMI) – Indigenous Missionary Council –, both of which sought to report these acts of violence in the agrarian areas during the Bolsonaro government.