Analysis
The image of indigenous peoples
Although most Brazilians live in cities or in regions far from indigenous
lands, 78% of the people heard declare they are interested in indigenous
peoples' future (chart 02). The poll reveals
that Brazilians have a positive image of Native Brazilians, 88% agreeing
they preserve nature and live in harmony with it (chart
01). 81% believe they are not unwilling to work, but only face working
in a different way (chart 07), 89% state they are not ignorant but only
belong to a different culture (chart 18), and
also 89% consider they are only violent with those who attempt to invade
their territory (chart 14).
The role of the government
From the people heard, 82% believe the Federal Government should work
to avoid indigenous peoples' extinction and promote their defense (chart
17). 75% state that Native Brazilians must be protected and taught
and 93% affirm they should receive education respecting their values
(chart 13).
When asked what they would name as the three biggest problems Native
Brazilians face, 57% mentioned the invasion of their lands, 41% pointed
out the disrespect for their culture and 28%, disease transmitted by
contact with non-indigenous people (chart 09).
So, the biggest problems are caused by the relation with the non-indigenous.
92% of the people heard state that Native Brazilians should keep on
living as such (chart 04), and for that purpose,
the government should prioritize the implementation of adequate health
and education programs (48%), carry out territory marking (37%) and
stimulate the production of market oriented goods (31%) (chart
19).
Indigenous lands
Indigenous territory marking also had expressive support among Brazilians.
When informed that indigenous peoples represent only 0.2% of the Brazilian
population and nevertheless have permanent possession rights over 11%
of the national territory, only 22% of the people heard consider that
to be too much land for the number of people, while 68% believe the
extension of lands occupied by indigenous peoples is adequate or insufficient.
(chart 11)
Even in Northern and Central-Western regions, where 99% of the indigenous
lands are located, 59% of the people heard consider the present extension
adequate or insufficient, while 34% believe Native Brazilians occupy
too much land.
When specifically asked about the case of Native Brazilians who speak
Portuguese and dress like other Brazilians, 70% consider their rights
must be kept, against 24% who state those rights should be lost (chart
20).
The right to difference
The recognition of indigenous peoples' right to be different from us
is a national consensus: 92% of the population think they have the right
to keep on living according to their customs (chart
04), opinion confirmed by the 91% that consider they should have
the space to live in accordance to their culture (chart
12).
67% disagree that Native Brazilians should be prepared to abandon the
jungle and live like us (chart 16).
These numbers are even higher among those who have college education.
The future
The research has also detected a significant change in Brazilians'
opinion about the future of Native Brazilians. The historical tragedy
of 500 years of colonization has caused the extinction of many indigenous
peoples and the reduction of their population from some millions to
the present 300 thousand. Due to that fact, until some years ago there
was a strong impression that indigenous peoples would end up coming
to extinction, even among those who defended them. However, most of
the people heard in the poll (45%) expressed optimism concerning Native
Brazilians' future, in terms of the preservation of their culture and
the possession of their lands. Other 26% expressed optimism only about
either their lands' possession or their culture, while 21% showed pessimism
about the preservation of both (chart 10).
