Brazil: 'Huge leap forward' as demarcation of uncontacted group’s land is completed
August 6, 2026
© FUNAICampaigners today hailed the completion of the physical demarcation of land belonging to the Kawahiva, one of the Amazon’s most vulnerable uncontacted peoples — a full 27 years after their presence on the land was confirmed by the authorities.
Now that the Rio Pardo Kawahiva Territory has been mapped out on the ground, only President Lula’s signature is required for the territory to be officially created.
The uncontacted Kawahiva are critically threatened by land grabbers and loggers who have pushed for access to the territory. They have aggressively opposed the recognition of the Kawahiva’s lands, with violence and arson attacks, as well as political lobbying.
Hunter-gatherers who rely totally on their forest, the Kawahiva are the survivors of attacks and disease which killed their relatives. They are resisting in their forest, avoiding contact with outsiders.
© FUNAI
“Physically marking the boundaries strengthens territorial monitoring and protection efforts… to combat invasions and illegal activities such as wildcat mining, logging, and the expansion of cattle ranching. This measure is particularly significant given the history of conflict and the difficulty of accessing the region” said a statement from the FUNAI Land Demarcation Department. (Full statement here.)
Survival International’s Director Caroline Pearce said today: “The uncontacted Kawahiva have been under threat in their own forest home for decades, while simply trying to exercise their right to live as they choose without contact. Now, finally, we are just one step away from their territory being recognized and protected. It is essential that President Lula quickly takes the final step of full legal recognition - this is the only way to secure the Kawahiva’s future.
“That we have reached this point at all is a tribute to the fierce commitment of the Kawahiva’s allies inside and outside Brazil, in the face of violent opposition from colonizing land-grabbers and their political allies. Now the Brazilian authorities must see it through.”
For over two months, Candor and his team traversed the Kawahiva territory, driving posts into the ground along its borders and installing signs to warn off intruders. Now that demarcation of the territory is complete, a presidential decree is the last step of the process to create the Indigenous territory.
Demarcation alone, however, will not protect the Kawahiva: there is a constant need for government teams on the ground to monitor the territory and prevent invasions and land theft.
Survival has campaigned for the land rights of the Kawahiva for decades, alongside Indigenous organizations, including COIAB (Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira), FEPOIMT (Federação dos Povos e Organizações Indígenas de Mato Grosso) and the Indian Law Resource Center, along with allies OPAN (Operação Amazônia Nativa) and Opi (Observatório dos Povos Indígenas Isolados).
“Every territory that advances in the demarcation process is a source of joy for our institution, which seeks to ensure that the rights of the Indigenous peoples of Mato Grosso state are upheld, " said Silvano Chue, acting President of FEPOIMT. “Indigenous peoples are the true owners of these territories.” (Full statement here.)
“Opi welcomes with great joy the news that another fundamental step towards protecting the uncontacted Kawahiva Indigenous people has been completed,” said a statement from the Indigenous rights group. (Full statement here.)
Notes to Editors
- FUNAI confirmed the existence of uncontacted people in this territory in 1999. Later, in 2013, the government agency released unique footage of nine uncontacted Kawahiva walking in the forest.
- Survival experts and allies who have worked on this campaign for years are available for interview.
