Kayapó people block illegal mining in Brazil
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In Brazil’s Pará state, Kayapó people are blocking access to an illegal gold mine on the Baú Indigenous Territory, risking their safety to halt the operation.
Less than two months after a federal police operation, an increasing number of miners have invaded the territory, prompting the Kayapó warriors to take action starting September 21st. They aim to disrupt the supply lines to the mine known as Pista Velha, located near the Curuazinho River.
The number of miners in the area has quadrupled in the last two months, reaching approximately 400 people, according to the Xingu+ Network, organizations that monitor the region. Indigenous people suspect criminal factions linked to drug trafficking are involved, citing reports of heavy weaponry, including rifles, at the mine. Despite the danger, the Kayapó say they will remain at the blockade until authorities remove the invaders.
The illegal mining activity on the Baú Indigenous Territory has been a problem since 2019, causing conflicts between miners and the Kayapó people, who call themselves Mebengôkre. While federal police and environmental agencies conducted an operation in July, disabling some equipment and camps, it did not reach the Pista Velha mine and only temporarily dispersed the miners. The Baú territory covers 1.5 million hectares and is home to the Kayapó people and isolated Pu’rô people.
The Kayapó have been monitoring the miners for months, alerting government agencies to the growing problem. In September, a surveillance team discovered a boat engine and rifle hidden near Pista Velha. The area affected by illegal mining has expanded significantly in recent years, especially during the previous government, increasing from 150 hectares in 2017 to 332 hectares in 2025.
