Who is Sonia Guajajara, the first indigenous woman to lead a ministry in Brazil?

He called the day “historic”. And for good reason, Thursday 29 December Sonia Guajajara was appointed Minister of Indigenous Peoples by the new Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. You are therefore the first indigenous person in the history of Brazil to lead a ministry.

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Born in the Arariboia Indigenous Reserve, he was descended from the Guajajara people whose name he adopted as his usual nameSonia Guajajara is a an important figure in the fight against deforestation and violence against indigenous peoples in Brazil. An activism that earned him to be part of the list of 100 most influential people in the world erected by Time in 2022. Through his bickering, that was it one of the main opponents of former president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), whose development policies in the Amazon have significantly accelerated deforestation. The former head of state was also known for his contempt for indigenous rights. The creation of a ministry dedicated to indigenous peoples and the choice of this activist to lead it are therefore a strong symbol of the changes expected under Lula’s presidency.

“We are about to end our invisibility”

The investiture of Lula’s government only dates back to January 1st, but Sonia Guajajara doesn’t intend to waste a minute. About her His ministry “coordinate and oversee government action on indigenous policies and work closely with the Ministers of Justice, Environment and Health. Above all: the National Indian Foundation [Funai, organisme public chargé de protéger les droits des indigènes] will be placed under my responsibility”explained to World. More determined than ever, this pioneer intends to undo the damage caused by Bolsonaro’s presidency and go further. “We will work to end our invisibility in Brazilian society, the denial of our rights. From now on we can no longer be despised or considered second-class human beings.he said forcefully.

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