DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT (ITAIPU) AND THE GATI PROJECT IN THE INDIGENOUS LAND OF OCO’Y - PR

Abstract

Oco’y Indigenous Land, in the city of São Miguel do Iguaçu – PR, is a small territory with high population density and frail social, economic and environmental. Oco’y has been selected, along with other 32 indigenous lands in the country, to be the place of implementation of the Indigenous Lands Environmental Management Project (GATI). At the same time, another sustainable development project was already being held for 10 years, promoted by Itaipu Binacional Company. Through critical analysis and comparison of these two projects that have similar goals, we conclude that the way Itaipu conducts the project seeks immediate results, meeting the indigenous needs, though without much community participation in decisions and without contributing to indigenous autonomy. It is possible to notice that the actions taken are not sustainable and the term “sustainability” is used just for marketing appeal. On the other hand, GATI, conducted by the guidelines of the National Policy on Territory and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands, focuses on meeting the current and future needs, promotes actions that respect indigenous autonomy and participation, respecting environmental and cultural characteristics of the territory.