Can urban migration contribute to rural resistance? Indigenous mobilization in the Middle Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

Given the importance of land for indigenous peoples, rural out-migration is usually associated with a disruption of indigenous culture. This paper suggests that instead of being a disruptive process, migration can serve as the means for a 'scale shift' that transports mobilization capacity from one location to another. This contribution presents the case of Barcelos, in the Brazilian Amazon, where an indigenous movement first arose in an urban area, due to the migration of indigenous activists from other locations, and later spread to rural communities as a result of local migratory circulation. Through alliances with the regional indigenous movement, these rural communities became part of a broader mobilization network that supported the indigenous resurgence in Barcelos.

Indigenous women, forest, and the battle for livelihood rights of Dayak Benawan in Indonesia

“…1/2017 aimed at recognizing and safeguarding indigenous communities, governmental issuance of concession permits for oil palm cultivation persists, exacerbating the marginalization of indigenous peoples responsible for environmental stewardship. Consequently, there is a risk of their forced displacement and migration due to disruptions to their customary practices (Sobeiro, 2015). Moreover, involvement in the oil palm industry often leads to heightened impoverishment and marginalization among indigenous communities (White & White, 2011).…”