“It’s such a simple phrase: stay alive! The other side is necropolitics.” This appeal was made by philosopher and prominent Indigenous leader Ailton Krenak to Brazilians to reelect President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over far-right candidate, senator Flávio Bolsonaro. Flávio’s statement that he will not demarcate any Indigenous lands “reveals his malicious intent to do everything in his power to prevent Indigenous peoples from surviving,” Krenak said, drawing parallels with Flávio’s father, former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019–2022).
Indigenous people have mobilized on social media and in the streets, warning of threats to their rights and the environment in the event of a victory by Flávio Bolsonaro, who, like his father, supports agricultural expansion and mining on Indigenous lands.
“Fight with Lula,” posted the Arariboia Indigenous Territory profile on Instagram, stating that the defense of Indigenous peoples “must be reflected in public policies.”
“Indigenous Peoples with Lula! Vote in the runoff election for the demarcation of Indigenous Lands!” posted the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) in a call for a national mobilization on Oct. 18, which brought together thousands of Indigenous people. Another mobilization is planned for Oct. 21.
Artists held a rally in Rio de Janeiro that drew more than 50,000 people and Lula supporters mobilized in 22 other state capitals.
This pro-Lula movement intensified after Lula narrowly lost the first round of elections on Oct. 4, contrary to the election polls that showed him leading.
“We cannot accept setbacks that endanger our territories, our lives, and our right to exist according to our ways of life,” posted Mídia Indígena, a network of Indigenous communicators.
“So that this never happens again!” posted the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA), a civil society organization focused on environmental and Indigenous rights, referring to the humanitarian crisis in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory during Jair Bolsonaro’s term. “We don’t want to cry again,” said Adneia Yanomami in a manifesto by female leaders published by Repórter Brasil.
If Flávio Bolsonaro wins, the newly created Ministry of Indigenous Peoples could be abolished, minister of Indigenous Peoples Eloy Terena told Mongabay by phone: “With a single stroke of a pen, he can undo all the achievements we have accomplished in these almost four years.” Terena also warned of a “much more hostile environment for the rights of Indigenous peoples” in the National Congress in 2027, whose membership will consist primarily of right-wing representatives.
Polls show Flávio Bolsonaro with a narrowing lead over Lula for the Oct. 25 runoff election. Roughly 21% of voters abstained in the first round election; environmental activists are urging voters to vote in the runoff.
“Now, it’s an empathic vote. It’s saying that you definitely left home because you don’t want these Bolsonarists running the country,” Krenak told Mongabay via video call. “Vote for what you believe your country needs to survive.”
Banner image: People hold signs demanding the demarcation of their lands on April 9, 2026. Image by Eraldo Peres/Associated Press.
