Covering territorial defence actions on Panará Land. Indians almost extinct in the 1970s, forced to...
This story excerpt was translated from Portuguese. You may also view the original story on the Rainforest Journalism Fund website. Our website is available in English, Spanish, bahasa Indonesia, French, and Portuguese.
Part 1:
In the 1970s, the Indigenous people of Panará were uprooted from their land due to the construction of the BR-163 highway connecting Cuiabá to Santarém. This highway construction project was part of the National Integration Program initiated by the Brazilian Military Dictatorship (1964-1985). The Panará were relocated to Xingu Indigenous park, and the poorly planned transfer pushed the community to the brink of extinction as 80% of its population died.
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Part 2:
The Panará people, who were decimated from their lands 50 years ago, are resolute survivors who have returned to their land in Mato Grosso.
