Indians belonging to various tribes -- Macuxi, Wapixana, Taurepang and the Ingariko -- have completed physical self-demarcation of the Raposa/Serra do Sol indigenous area. They are now awaiting the arrival of Nelson Jobim, minister of justice, to formally recognise the demarcated areas by signing an administrative decree followed by the homologation and registration of the area.
Brazilian Indians have fought a long, hard battle to retain their land which has steadily been usurped for various for various measures like mining and development projects. This has meant that the land area for the Indians has shrunk over the years. Now with the demarcation of 1,678,800 ha of land, the Indians hope to live in peace.
Meanwhile, the municipal elections of 1996 have for the first time resulted in the wins of two indigenous mayors in the municipalities of Para and Paraiba. Joao Neves of the Brazilian Socialist Party was elected mayor of Para and Marcos Potiguara of the Brazilian Democratic Movement was elected mayor of Paraiba. Both the mayors are directly associated with the indigenous movement.