Anderson Silva, a member of CASAS, and colleagues have recently published their latest book chapter on the Sustainable Futures Collaborative website.
Abstract:
The book chapter discusses the expansion of agricultural frontiers in the Matopiba region and the r-existence (historical resistance) of the Akroá Gamela people in the Laranjeiras territory of South Piauí, Brazil. It highlights the historical struggle of the indigenous people against the encroachment of agribusiness, emphasizing their fight for territorial recognition, land demarcation, and conservation of their way of life of the environmental destruction. The term “r-existence” is used to denote the indigenous people’s historical existence in the territory before the arrival of agribusiness. The text provides a detailed account of the expansion of the agricultural frontier in the Matopiba region, the significant impact on the Cerrado biome, and the socio-economic implications. It presents data on the deforestation in the Cerrado biome, ranking the states that have contributed to deforestation, with Piauí being the occupies seventh position. The narrative also delves into the historical context of the occupation of the Cerrado, the government incentives for agribusiness expansion, and the challenges faced by traditional communities, particularly the Akroá Gamela people, due to the intensification of soybean production and expansion of the agricultural frontier. Furthermore, the document sheds light on the struggles and r-existence of the Akroá Gamela people, emphasizing their fight for recognition, land demarcation, and protection of the environment. It highlights the creation of the Association of Traditional and Indigenous Peoples of the Laranjeiras Community (APIGL) in 2021, marking a significant step in defending the territory and advocating for land recognition and demarcation. The narrative also emphasizes the community’s efforts to protect their land, combat environmental destruction, and secure their rights through collective action and the creation of the association. In conclusion, the document underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Akroá Gamela people in their fight for territorial rights, environmental protection, and cultural preservation. It emphasizes the significance of the from the Akroá Gamela Association in legitimizing their ethnic struggle for land and environmental protection, as well as the need for state intervention to fulfill constitutional obligations in land demarcation and indigenous rights protection.
You can access the full book chapter, and the full book, all in Portuguese, by clicking here.
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CASAS
The Collective of Agrarian Scholar-Activists from the Global South (CASAS) is a community of Scholar-Activists working in critical agrarian studies.