Brazil’s Lower House approves a bill that would limit the recognition of indigenous ancestral lands

() — The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that would limit the recognition of indigenous ancestral lands, with 283 votes in favor, 155 against, and one abstention.

The Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sônia Guajajara, described the vote as a “serious attack against indigenous peoples and the environment.”

“PL490 has been approved by the Chamber: a serious attack on indigenous peoples and the environment. We continue to fight for life. Even in the Senate, we will dialogue to avoid our lives being traded for profit and destruction. No! we will surrender!” Guajajara tweeted late this Tuesday.

The bill, known as PL 490/2007, strips the ministries of Environment and Indigenous Peoples of some powers, weakening their oversight of environmental protections and the demarcation of indigenous lands. Although the bill does not affect fully recognized indigenous territories, it would affect claimed territories.

The bill now heads to the Brazilian Senate.