Active listening and collective building mark the 15th Consultation of the Indigenous School Education Law, held in Itupiranga

With the presence of representatives from the Parakanã, Atikum, and Guajajara ethnicities, the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat of Indigenous Peoples (SEPI), held this Friday (23) the 15th Prior Consultation, Free and Informed on the collective construction of the first Indigenous School Education Law of the State of Pará. The meeting took place in the municipality of Itupiranga, in southeastern Pará, and featured active participation from local communities, reaffirming the State's commitment to qualified listening and direct dialogue with indigenous peoples.

The consultation is part of a series of meetings that traverse the eight ethno-regions of the state, to consolidate unprecedented legislation that reflects the realities and specificities of each people. The draft of the law is being collaboratively constructed by a Working Group (GT), established by Decree No. 4,430/2025, with the direct participation of indigenous leaders.

"We want indigenous school education to be through our reality, a specific and differentiated education, not just as it is written in the law, but in practice," emphasized Jociel Atikum, an indigenous teacher.

Active participation and fundamental contributions

During the meeting, one of the main topics discussed was the need to ensure the continuity of indigenous education after high school. Leaders and educators warned about the dropout of young people from the communities due to the lack of higher education opportunities suitable for their cultures and contexts. Other proposals presented included adjustments to the special regime for professionals in indigenous school education, as well as suggestions regarding the composition of the State Council of Indigenous School Education (CEEEI). These contributions complement those already gathered in previous consultations, enriching and refining the final version of the document that will be submitted to the State Legislative Assembly.

"It is important for the Parakanã people to have better education for my people, because many indigenous people need to study. To have more knowledge of our village and other peoples as well. It is important for the Parakanã people to graduate and take care of what is ours, helping all ethnicities," reinforced Xetera Parakanã, chief of the Paranoá Village.

In addition to SEPI and the Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Pará (FEPIPA), the process involves the participation of the Attorney General's Office of the State of Pará (PGE), the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI), the State Secretariat of Education (SEDUC), the State University of Pará (UEPA), and the Public Ministry of the State of Pará (MPPA).

Next stop: Santarém

After the meeting in Itupiranga, the next consultation already has a date and location defined: it will be held in Santarém, in the Baixo Tapajós region, on May 26 and 27. The agenda reinforces the State's commitment to listen to all ethno-regions of Pará, with the expectation of participation from the 14 indigenous peoples that make up this region.