Indigenous people debut “shareholder activism” in Brazil

Relations between indigenous groups and private corporations in Brazil have always been tense—with clashes being observed in over 400 areas across the country. More often than not, the original peoples end up on the losing side of disputes. This time, however, a Guarani tribe has decided to fight the system from within, becoming shareholders of Rumo Logística, the company interfering in their land.

Rumo is Brazil’s largest railway operator, managing 12,000 kilometers of railroads. Among them is a connection between the port of Santos and the countryside town of Itirapina. Five separate indigenous lands are located along the course of the line. Works to double the tracks and improve transportation have disturbed roughly 5,000 indigenous people.

In 2013, the company signed an agreement with local communities and Funai, Brazil’s agency for indigenous affairs, to provide compensatory measures, relating to sanitation, education, healthcare, and environmental management. However, according to indigenous leadership, Rumo’s licensing team is still not listening to the community’s needs—with 72 of 101 foreseen measures currently stalled.

Tired of waiting, the indigenous group decided to act, denouncing Rumo at its own shareholders’ meeting. Five Guarani...