Migração de indígenas venezuelanos de etnia Warao para o Brasil: desafios das políticas públicas, organização da sociedade e ações em Uberlândia-MG

Abstract

The migration of Venezuelan indigenous people of the Warao ethnic group to Brazil has intensified since 2014 as a result of socioeconomic, political, and environmental crises in their territory of origin, posing significant challenges for public policy and for ensuring the rights of this population. This study aimed to identify the Venezuelan indigenous people of the Warao ethnic group in Brazil, as well as the intersectoral actions carried out by the Warao Working Groups and the challenges encountered. This is a mixed-methods study, comprising an analysis of publicly available secondary data on the Venezuelan Warao indigenous population in Brazil, obtained from UNHCR and IOM, and an exploratory-descriptive qualitative study conducted in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. Six social actors linked to public and private institutions that worked with the Warao population participated, selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis. This dissertation-equivalent study resulted in two scientific articles. The first sought to analyze secondary data in the public domain, at the national level, regarding the number of Venezuelan indigenous people of the Warao ethnic group in the country, their geolocated distribution, and records of the intersectoral activities of working groups focused on this population. The data collection covered the period from 2014 to 2024, with information obtained from databases maintained by the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration. The results showed that the Warao population grew from approximately 30 registered individuals in 2014 to more than 8,000 individuals spread across all Brazilian states over a ten-year period. The second article aimed to understand the perspectives of social actors linked to public and private institutions regarding the cultural characteristics, needs, and rights of Venezuelan indigenous peoples of the Warao ethnic group residing in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. The results highlighted the importance of intersectoral coordination in addressing demands related to housing, food, education, income generation, and access to rights. However, limitations persist due to the insufficiency and outdated nature of official data, as well as challenges related to linguistic and cultural barriers, obtaining documentation, accessing public services, and tensions between institutional social protection mechanisms and Warao ways of life. It is concluded that the strengthening of intersectoral networks, the ongoing training of professionals, and the formulation of culturally sensitive public policies are fundamental to promoting equity, social inclusion, and the guarantee of rights for this population in a migratory context.