Indigenous representatives from the Kayapó and Panará ethnicities joined a protest blocking access to a Cargill port in Santarém, Pará, against a decree allowing private concessions of waterways without prior consent.
On January 16, representatives from the Kayapó and Panará indigenous peoples, hailing from the Alto Xingu region in Mato Grosso and Pará, participated in a protest that has been blocking access to a multinational Cargill port in Santarém, western Pará. This demonstration, which began on January 22, has garnered the attention of around 1,200 individuals, showcasing a growing unity among indigenous groups against government actions affecting their ancestral lands and waterways.
The protest was recently joined by the Munduruku indigenous people from the Alto Tapajós, who express their opposition to Decree 12.600/2025. This decree authorizes the private concession of waterways, which the indigenous leaders argue was enacted without necessary environmental licensing and without free, prior, and informed consultation, as mandated by the ILO Convention 169. They emphasize that the implementation of such measures could convert traditional rivers into highways for commodity transportation, severely impacting the local environment and their way of life.
By directly challenging the government's decree and aligning their efforts, the indigenous groups are not only fighting for their rights but also raising awareness about the implications of privatizing waterways. The lack of response from Cargill and the Ministry of Ports and Airports to inquiries about this issue further highlights the contentious nature of the situation, showcasing the tensions between indigenous rights and corporate interests in Brazil.
