THOUSANDS of indigenous people have marched in Brazil’s capital, calling on the government to officially recognise lands they have lived on for centuries and to protect territories from criminal activities such as illegal mining.

With posters bearing slogans such as: “The future is indigenous,” they walked towards Brasilia’s Three Powers Square, where Congress, the Supreme Court and the Planalto presidential palace are located.

A group of leaders entered the palace to talk to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, while others shouted: “Our rights are not negotiable.”