Following a seminar in Brasilia entitled “Indians and Parliament”, participants decided to establish their own parliament, saying their representation in Brazilian politics today is weak. The parliament would be a place to discuss problems, but also a way to join together tribes to strengthen their presence in public life and hold the government accountable. The participants also called for a law that would guarantee indigenous peoples in the country five seats in the Federal Senate and 27 in the Chamber of Deputies by 2006. Today, no indigenous people hold seats in the National Congress, and only have 87 in city councils across the nation.
