Violence against indigenous peoples, illegal mining, and political polarization continue to resonate in the debate about the Yanomani crisis

By: FGV ECMI

 

• Despite the humanitarian crisis persisting throughout the year, the highest peak of mentions on the topic continues to be in January 2023;
• If in 2023 former President Bolsonaro was mentioned as the main responsible for the crisis, in 2024 critics blame Lula's administration for not yet having resolved the situation;
• The Salgueiro parade, honoring the Yanomami people, expanded publications about the culture and traditions of the northern region of the country, especially mentions of indigenous peoples.

The debate about the Yanomami humanitarian crisis remains strong in early 2024, but the peak of mentions related to the topic continues to be in January 2023. This is what a study by FGV School of Communication, Media, and Information (FGV ECMI) shows, which analyzed the repercussion of this theme on X, Facebook, and Instagram, considering a broader period from January 2023 to December 2024, with a focus on comparing the month of January of the two years.

The report indicates that content regarding violence against indigenous peoples and illegal mining remains prominent, as previously highlighted in the 2023 report that tracked the debate surrounding the Yanomami crisis. However, the accountability of Bolsonaro or Lula still serves as the main catalysts for the debate. The study also analyzes the impact of the Salgueiro parade during the Rio de Janeiro carnival, which paid tribute to the Yanomami people.

 

 

Yanomami Crisis: the 2023 and 2024 scenarios

 

Evolution of the debate on the Yanomami in X

Period: January 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024

 

 

 

Source: X | Elaborated by: FGV ECMI

 

• The Yanomami crisis in early 2023 was the highlight of the period, focusing criticism and accountability on the Bolsonaro administration (PL), especially within the progressive field. Contesting this attribution of responsibility, right-wing groups blame previous administrations under Lula (PT), but to a lesser extent. Also in January, criticisms of illegal mining were mapped, sparked by a report aired on Fantástico; 
• In 2024, discussions revolve around opposition to the current government, accusing it of not taking significant actions regarding the Yanomami peoples. The increase in the number of malnourished individuals, malaria cases, and other health problems resonates across the network, especially among conservative profiles. Meanwhile, profiles connected to the government point to a reduction in the number of miners in the territory;
• Beyond the ongoing health crisis among the Yanomami, which remains the most prominent topic in the debate, the attack on indigenous people of the Pataxó Hã-hã-hãe tribe (BA) also resonated on the network. In this topic, some supporters of Lula’s administration point to the attack as a consequence of illegal mining, while its opponents highlight the increase in illegal extraction and possible neglect by President Lula and Governor Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT).

 

Main terms about the Yanomami in X

Period 1: January 2023

Period 2: January 2024

 

Source: X | Elaborated by: FGV ECMI

• In 2023, criticisms of Bolsonaro’s administration dominated discussions within the network. Bolsonaro’s opposition denouced actors from the former administration, pointing to names like Damares Alves (Republicanos-DF) and Ricardo Salles (PL-SP), in addition to the former president himself. In 2024, on the other hand, the predominant criticisms come from the opposition to Lula’s administration, highlighting that the current president is not managing to deal with the humanitarian crisis of the Yanomami, as well as the advancement of mining in indigenous areas;
• In the previous year, the Yanomami people were separately featured on the network. However, in 2024, other indigenous communities join the discussion. Regarding the Pataxó Hã-hã-hãe population, the episode of violence against some of its leaders is highlighted. The opposition drives the debate more noticeably, despite a strong presence of progressives;
• The institutionalization of the indigenous debate is a point of interest, with two axes of discussion: one defending the current administration, emphasizing the importance of the creation of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, while opposition profiles question the effectiveness of the institution;
• Illegal mining remains a prominent topic in both periods. However, while in 2023 the focus was on the consequences of mining activity in the area, in 2024 the discussions revolve around the advancements made by the Lula administration in combating extractivism;
• Regarding the federal government, mentions of alleged inaction by the Brazilian army in combating illegal mining stand out in 2024. However, these mentions do not resonate to the same extent as episodes of violence.

 

Main actors in the 2024 debate

Main pages and profiles in the debate on the topic on Facebook

Period: January 2024 | 1,564 posts

 

Source: Facebook | Elaborated by: FGV ECMI

 

 

• The highest peaks of posts were related to moments when the Lula administration announced programs to combat illegal mining in Yanomami territories, or some form of humanitarian aid. The most notable in this regard is the federal government's plan to counter invasions by gold miners in the territory, with a budget of 1.2 billion; 
• Following this trend, the discussion was mainly driven by traditional media outlets, with notable mentions including news portals from the Globo group and the UOL portal. In the media, the debate revolves around the resurgence of mining activities on Yanomami lands and the ongoing health crisis in the region, as well as addressing the actions of the federal government to mitigate the situation;
• Political actors from both left and right had a divided participation in the debates. In the opposition, profiles of Paulo Eduardo Martins (PL-PR), Damares Alves, and Colonel Telhada (PP-SP) stand out, with accusatory tones in their posts, pointing out the current administration's neglect of the Yanomami people. Minister Marina Silva and the official PT profile are highlights in the government base, announcing the advances of the current government regarding the Yanomami population;
• Among independent media, only progressive profiles obtained considerable engagement, prevailing an informative tone and highlighting the ministerial meeting held by the current government to discuss the health crisis. The possibility of initiating an investigation against Jair Bolsonaro for what is referred to as the "genocide of the Yanomami people" also resonated. In a more lighthearted tone, the last highlight is the Salgueiro samba school, which will bring terms and phrases from the Yanomami people to the Marquês de Sapucaí Sambadrome this carnival.

 

Main pages and profiles in the debate on the topic on Instagram

Period: January 2024 | 826 posts

 

Source: Instagram | Elaborated by: FGV ECMI

 

• The peaks of the posts are related to reports showing little progress in the situation of the Yanomami people, as well as the measures launched by the federal government to remedy the crisis and failures in the actions of the federal government. Another point of emphasis was the death of 99 Yanomami children in 2022 due to the impacts of illegal mining;
• The debate among political leaders continues to be present, as observed on Facebook. Here, Carla Zambelli (PL-SP), Bia Kicis (PL-DF), Hélio Lopes (PL-RJ), Damares Alves, and councilman Carlos Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) stand out, criticizing the Lula administration. The lawmakers emphasize changes in statistical models in counting indigenous deaths from dehydration and indicate that the current administration used the issue to attack former President Bolsonaro; 
• In the traditional media, Folha de São Paulo highlights criticism of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and the presence of illegal mines in the territory. Right-wing media, represented by Gazeta do Povo and Conexão Política Brasil profiles, criticize the government, emphasizing the persistence of the crisis and the limited progress in terms of monitoring in the Amazon;
• In the progressive field, profiles such as Chavoso da USP, with criticisms of the capitalist system and illegal mining, and the official account of President Lula, highlighting the government's plans to prevent the advancement of illegal mining in the Amazon, stand out.. 

 

Parliamentary monitor

Parliamentary action in the debate on the topic on Facebook

Period: January 2024 | 30 posts

 

Source: Facebook | Elaborated by: FGV ECMI

 

 

• In early January 2024, the topic was most discussed by lawmakers, however, interactions peaked at the end of the month. Comparing with the same month in 2023, there was a decrease of 85.5% in the number of posts, and 74.6% fewer lawmakers addressing the issue. 
• Just like in 2023, the PT sparked more discussions about the indigenous crisis; however, the right also gained centrality, especially considering profiles like Carla Zambelli's, which received more prominence in terms of interactions. Although the PL posted fewer posts, it garnered a higher volume of interactions. The Republicanos, primarily through the figure of Senator Damares Alves, also achieved significant traction on the network;
• Damares Alves stands out with the most posts, but it was Carla Zambelli who garnered the highest number of interactions. Overall, right-wing lawmakers, especially allies of former President Bolsonaro, are the highlights on the network in terms of engagement and number of publications; 
• However, supporters of the current administration also vie for space on the network, with Rogério Correia (PT-MG) standing out with the highest number of posts among government-aligned lawmakers. Gleisi Hoffmann (PT-PR) was the lawmaker from the government base who accumulated the most interactions. Meanwhile, Senator Humberto Costa (PT-PE), who posted the most in 2023, only made one post in 2024 on the topic.
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Main arguments in the debate on the topic on Facebook

Period: January 2024

 

 

 

Source: Facebook | Elaborated by: FGV ECMI

 

 

• In addition to Senator Damares Alves and Congresswoman Carla Zambelli, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-SP) and Colonel Telhada are other significant figures. Their posts accumulate criticism of the Lula administration regarding the persistence of the humanitarian crisis in the Yanomami territory. They seek to dismiss criticisms made by environmentalist groups and opponents, especially in 2023, by arguing that the situation of the Yanomami people has deteriorated under the current administration; 
• Minister Nísia Trindade was also targeted due to a case of sexual violence that occurred at a regional unit of the Ministry of Health. They argue how Lula's discourse and his supporters, in early 2023, used the indigenous agenda as a political platform to attack the previous administration, highlighting the increase in the number of wildfires in the Amazon and Brazilian cerrado. Furthermore, they seek to shift the term 'genocide' from Bolsonaro to Lula;
• Disputing the narrative, Gleisi Hoffmann, Humberto Costa, and Randolfe Rodrigues (Without party - AP) are the government-affiliated lawmakers with the most interactions. Emphasizing the plans of the current administration to unite various fronts for a joint effort to combat illegal mining, public health, and ensure the protection of the Yanomami people, with a budget of R$ 1.2 billion allocated for the protection of the Yanomami Indigenous Land, they reaffirm that the humanitarian crisis in the region is important to the current administration, while redirecting blame to Bolsonaro and Damares. The case of the Pataxó Hã-hã-hãe community (BA) is highlighted by Congressman Padre João (PT-MG);
• Illegal mining is highlighted on the social media accounts of opposition lawmakers, emphasizing the increase in the number of illegal invasions. Various profiles stress the importance of the Armed Forces intensifying actions against illegal mining, as well as the actions of miners against IBAMA inspectors and FAB planes.

Debate about Yanomamis at carnival

 

Main posts about the indigenous debate related to carnival on Facebook and Instagram

Period: February 11th to 14th, 2024 | 351 posts

 

 

 

Source: Facebook and Instagram | Elaborated by: FGV ECMI

 

• Posts from profiles such as "Índios do Brasil" and "Loucos pelo Garantido" garnered the highest number of interactions due to the prominence of the Yanomami in the parade. Meanwhile, on Instagram, the profiles of singer Rebecca and "Mídia Ninja" take center stage in the debate. The presence of regional content profiles among the most relevant, like the aforementioned ones, indicates an atypical movement spurred by the indigenous-themed storyline in the carnival.

 

Multiplatform spotlight on related indigenous debate

to carnival

Period: February 11th to 14th, 2024