Brazil Supreme Court Advances Indigenous Land Reparations for Itaipu Dam

A public hearing in Foz do Iguaçu moved forward a federal agreement to purchase about 3,000 hectares of land for Avá‑Guarani indigenous communities as reparations for the social and territorial impacts of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam. The plan allocates R$240 million, with the land to be divided among the Tekoha Guasu Guavirá, Tekoha Guasu Ocoy and Jacutinga territories. Federal judge Catarina Volkart said the acquisition is only the first step, after which infrastructure for health, education, housing and other services will be developed.

Separately, the Supreme Court of Brazil (STF) concluded its review of the “marco temporal” law that had limited indigenous land demarcations. While the court reaffirmed the unconstitutionality of the temporal cutoff, it recognized the state’s long‑standing delay and extended the deadline for completing demarcations to ten years. The ruling highlighted chronic under‑funding of FUNAI and a lack of political will, underscoring ongoing disputes over indigenous land rights.