The following text was taken from a recent official communication regarding the ongoing demarcation of the lands of the Guarani-Kaiowá indigenous people in the in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

a) According to the Director of Land Affairs, some Guarani lands in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul have been undergoing demarcation since the 1980s. The demarcation methodologies employed initially were such that they reduced the indigenous territories to the areas immediately around the villages and excluded the Indians themselves from the identification process. The National Foundation for the Indian (FUNAI) has since adopted a more advanced methodology in the identification and demarcation processes, based on hydrographic basins, and has ensured the active participation of the Indians themselves in the process of officially recognising the lands they have traditionally occupied.

b) On the basis of this innovative concept, six Working Groups were set up (Governmental Ruling 788 and 793, 14 July 2008) to carry out ethno-historical, anthropological and environmental studies aimed at identifying the lands traditionally occupied by the Guarani in the following hydrographic basins: Amambaipegua, Dourados-Amambaipegua, Iguatemipegua, Brilhante-Pegua, Nhandeva-Pegua and Apappegua.

c) The identification and delimitation studies are being monitored by an observer from the Mato Grosso do Sul state government, who is not permitted to interfere in the technical work.

d) A special Technical Group, comprising representatives from the National Institute for Settlement/Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) and the Land Administration of the Mato Grosso do Sul state government responsible for land-ownership issues, will carry out a survey of non-indigenous occupation in the region.

e) The State, municipalities, and all other instructed parties with proof will be given guarantees of broad defence and appeal rights enabling them to claim indemnization or error in the reports.

f) When they return form the field, the six Working Groups will have 240 days to submit a Detailed Report of Identification and Delimitation, and 200 days to submit the Environmental Report.

g) At present, the Working Groups are in the final stages of the first phase of their fieldwork. The phase entailing entry into private lands will commence in the second half of 2009, and is likely to face resistance and judicial contestations.

h) Once the Working Groups have completed their work, a team of land surveyors, agronomists and cartographers will carry out the measurements. At the end of the appeal period, the Demarcation Ruling Statement will be published. The following stage will comprise the evaluation of the improvements made to estates with a view to establishing compensation levels, contracting of companies to carry out the physical land demarcation, ratification, and finally, registration with the Federal Estate Asset Secretariat and the district notary offices.

i) Despite the lengthy nature of the process of demarcation, FUNAI will act firmly in carrying it out, in accordance with the terms agreed with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, so as to arrive at a fair, adequate and definitive solution for the Guarani people of Mato Grosso do Sul.

Source: Ministry of External Relations