Minister and Governor meet to discuss Indigenous education in the State hosting COP30

By Ana Pastana – From Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – On Tuesday, January 28, the Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, will meet with the Governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho (MDB), to discuss Law 10.820/2024, which led to the occupation of the State Secretariat of Education (Seduc-PA) headquarters in Belém (PA), a protest that has been ongoing for 15 days. The meeting is also expected to include the participation of 40 Indigenous leaders involved in the movement, according to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI), as reported to CENARIUM.

Guajajara arrived in the state capital on Monday, January 27, to listen to the protesters’ demands and facilitate a dialogue between the state government and the leaders requesting the repeal of the state law that abolishes the Indigenous Modular Education System (Somei), a component of the Modular Education System (Some).

“Fulfilling her role as a facilitator for the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI), the minister has been making efforts to ensure that the state government can address the Indigenous peoples’ demands. On Monday, the minister listened to the leaders’ concerns and arranged a meeting with the state government, where 40 leaders will meet with Governor Helder Barbalho on Tuesday, January 28, to present the Indigenous peoples’ demands”, the statement says.

On Monday, January 27, accompanied by the Secretary of Indigenous Peoples of Pará, Puyr Tembé, Guajajara said she was at the location to respond to the Indigenous people’s request to meet with the state authorities. “I arranged the meeting, I spoke with the governor [Helder], and I said, ‘Governor, meet with these people, listen to them, you need to listen,'” she explained. The minister’s presence was a demand from the Indigenous movement.

On Instagram, the minister documented the meeting and reaffirmed her commitment to Indigenous issues through the MPI, with the support of the national Secretary for Environmental and Territorial Indigenous Management, Ceiça Pitaguary. In the post, she also confirmed the agenda with Governor Helder Barbalho.

“Today, I went to Belém to speak with the Indigenous relatives who are occupying the Pará State Secretariat of Education, demanding the strengthening of the state’s Indigenous school education system and to reinforce the MPI’s work in building dialogue and paving the way in this mobilization. I heard the demands from the protesters, who are requesting the repeal of Law 10.820/2024, and I also offered support in mediating the movement’s demands in an agenda with Governor Helder Barbalho. Tomorrow [Tuesday], there will be a conversation with 40 leaders who asked to present their Indigenous education agendas”, she wrote.

Leaders and Pará Government Disagree

On January 24, Governor Helder Barbalho stated that he had met with a commission of Indigenous leaders from the ethno-regions to discuss and dialogue about the education of the state’s Indigenous peoples. On the same day, Indigenous leaders from the Médio Tapajós region, Alessandra Munduruku and Chief Dadá Borari, denied the governor’s statement and said they had not been heard. According to them, the group that met with the governor was not part of the leadership behind the occupation.

Demands

The Indigenous movement demands the repeal of state law 10.820/2024, passed in December of last year, which replaced specific regulations with state decrees, creating legal uncertainty for Indigenous education. This measure could lead to the implementation of distance learning in remote areas, jeopardizing the face-to-face model of Some and Somei.

The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) has filed a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI 7778) with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and requested the suspension of the law. The action, sent to Minister Cármen Lúcia, highlights the break with policies that previously guaranteed in-person education in Indigenous and traditional communities.

Full MPI Statement:

Minister Sonia Guajajara visited the Pará State Secretariat of Education (Seduc-PA) on Monday, January 27, responding to a request from Indigenous leaders who have been camped at the location since January 14, demanding the strengthening of the state’s Indigenous school education system.

As the facilitator for the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI), the minister has been facilitating dialogue to ensure the state government can address the Indigenous peoples’ demands. On Monday, the minister listened to the leaders’ concerns and arranged a meeting with the state government, where 40 leaders will meet with Governor Helder Barbalho on Tuesday, January 28, to present their demands.

The MPI has been involved in the situation from the beginning, with the National Secretary of Indigenous Rights Articulation and Promotion (SEART), Uilton Tuxá, remaining in the state until last Saturday. The department has been mediating and providing support to ensure any proposed solutions strengthen Indigenous education and ensure the fulfillment of Indigenous peoples’ rights to specific and differentiated education. The minister was received by the Secretary of Indigenous Peoples of Pará, Puyr Tembé, who attended the entire meeting at Seduc. The national Secretary for Environmental and Territorial Indigenous Management, Ceiça Pitaguary, also accompanied the minister’s delegation.

Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves