Indigenous leaders urge Brazilians to reelect Lula for land rights protection

Brazil’s Indigenous communities are mobilizing voters with the simple message “stay alive” as they campaign for the reelection of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to safeguard their territorial rights. Philosopher and prominent Indigenous leader Ailton Krenak framed the choice as one between survival and necropolitics, warning that a far-right victory would intensify threats to native lands and cultures. The appeal comes as senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the leading opposition candidate, has stated he will not demarcate any new Indigenous territories if elected.

What happened

Ailton Krenak delivered the “stay alive” appeal directly to Brazilian voters, contrasting it with the policies promoted by Flávio Bolsonaro. The senator’s declaration that his administration would refuse to create additional Indigenous lands has galvanized native groups who see the statement as an explicit threat to their future. Indigenous organizations have since intensified get-out-the-vote efforts across the Amazon and other regions, framing the election as an existential vote for cultural and physical survival.

Supporters of President Lula point to his administration’s record of slowing Amazon deforestation and resuming stalled land demarcation processes that had been frozen under previous far-right governance. In contrast, Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign rhetoric has revived fears of renewed encroachment by miners, loggers and agribusiness interests on traditionally occupied territories. These concerns have prompted widespread Indigenous voter registration drives and public appeals in both urban centers and remote villages.

Why it matters

Survival versus necropolitics

The phrase “stay alive” has become a rallying cry that encapsulates the stark policy differences between the candidates. For many Indigenous nations, the ability to secure legal recognition of their lands directly determines access to clean water, traditional food sources and protection from violent conflicts with outsiders. Without demarcation, communities remain vulnerable to illegal invasions that frequently lead to assassinations of leaders and widespread environmental degradation.

Links to broader conservation goals

Secure Indigenous territories in Brazil function as important buffers against deforestation and biodiversity loss. Studies consistently show that recognized Indigenous lands suffer far lower rates of forest clearing than unprotected areas. A victory for policies that freeze demarcation could therefore accelerate carbon emissions and species decline across the Amazon basin, with global climate consequences.

Connection to upcoming international events

The election outcome will shape Brazil’s negotiating position at COP30 in Brazil: The Critical Climate Summit in the Heart of the Amazon. Indigenous rights form a central pillar of discussions around forest protection and climate finance; any rollback in domestic policy risks undermining the country’s credibility on the international stage.

What comes next

With election day approaching, Indigenous mobilization is expected to intensify through social media campaigns, community assemblies and partnerships with environmental organizations. Observers anticipate high turnout among native voters who view the ballot as a direct defense against policies that could erase decades of territorial gains. The final result will determine not only the pace of land demarcation but also the level of protection afforded to the Amazon rainforest and its traditional guardians in the critical years ahead.

Sources

https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/10/stay-alive-brazils-indigenous-people-mobilize-to-vote-for-lula-to-protect-their-rights/

https://atmoswire.com/haber/cop30-in-brazil-the-critical-climate-summit-in-the-heart-of-the-amazon