Brazil Senate backs permanent protection for Ianomâmi Indigenous territory

On 13 May, a Senate sub‑committee hearing on Indigenous peoples was used by government officials, Indigenous leaders and civil‑society representatives to call for the emergency measures that were introduced after the 2023 health‑security crisis in the Ianomâmi Indigenous Territory to become permanent public policies. The Ianomâmi area, spanning the border of Roraima and Amazonas, is home to about 34 000 Ianomâmi and Ye’kwana people and has suffered a severe humanitarian emergency caused by illegal gold‑mining that undermined health services and food security.

The hearing highlighted the integrated response created after the emergency was declared in January 2023, including the establishment of a “Casa de Governo” in Roraima to coordinate logistics, health assistance, food‑security programmes and anti‑mining operations. Around 50 army troops, together with the Federal Police, the National Indigenous People Foundation (Funai) and Indigenous health teams, have been conducting patrols, destroying illicit airstrips and seizing equipment. From March 2024 to July 2026 the operation recorded 10 933 actions, confiscating 926 camps, 50 landing strips, 57 aircraft, 2 300 engines, and other assets, inflicting an estimated loss of R$ 748.6 million on illegal miners.

Senator Damares Alves stressed that these actions must continue irrespective of future government changes, warning that mining groups are now opening forest roads to access interior areas. The hearing concluded with a commitment to maintain and strengthen monitoring and enforcement to safeguard the territory and its inhabitants.