Traditional peoples and communities: From protected areas to the political visibility of social groups having ethnical and collective identity

Abstract

The main goal of this article is to schematically review the three vectors that influenced the consolidation of the label "traditional peoples and communities" in Brazil, highlighting the Amazon cases. They are: a) the international environmentalism discussions; b) the development of the debate at the national level; c) the appropriation by social groups labeled as such. The focus is to show that with Decree n. 6040/07, the term itself has been transformed and is no longer restricted to the Protected Areas. It came to designate self-defined social groups through different collective identities, who struggle for basic social rights and territory, access to natural resources and recognition in public policies that suit their needs.