In 1998, we only had 14 indigenous candidates. In these
elections, that number grew to 20. Not much,
but still a trend to further the indigenous cause.

If we consider the votes received by the 20 indigenous candidates, a little over 13,000 altogether, we see that they represent only a small percentage of the country's indigenous voters, who total about 200,000. This could lead us to the conclusion that the "ethnic vote" continues to be more a debate and an aspiration than a reality.

If we try to identify the reason of the poor performance of indigenous candidates, we see that it was caused by various factors. Among them, special mention should be made of the party policy historically adopted in indigenous villages, the high cost of the campaigns, disbelief in the party policy, and the lack of a true understanding of the space for the exercise of power in the non-indigenous society.

Despite this scenario, one can notice a greater interest and a higher awareness on the part of the indigenous movement of the importance of its participation in the country's political life. In 1998, we only had 14 indigenous candidates. In these elections, that number grew to 20. This number, although not very high in itself, reveals the trend to face the challenge of the ballot boxes as a means to further the indigenous cause and ensure the rights of indigenous people.

The present electoral moment and the results of the elections should show to all the citizens of this country, particularly to its rulers, that the relations between indigenous peoples, the State and the national society should be urgently reviewed, so as to ensure their participation in the national life under rules and through channels of their own. That is, as in other countries, they should be able to have a differentiated participation in legislative circles.

If, on the one hand, no indigenous person was elected, the indigenous candidates of left-wing parties won most of the votes (72 percent) and most indigenous people voted for candidates who want to see a change in the policies now in force. In the state of Acre, with the reelection of senator Marina Silva, her alternate Antônio Ferreira da Silva, a member of the Apurinã people, will continue to play a role in the political scenario.

The chart below shows the indigenous candidates and the votes they got (source: Cimi and High Electoral Court).

Indigenous candidates for the position of House Representative:
 

Name	UF*	People	Party	N. Votes
Amanuá Seus	MT	Kamayurá	PMDB	1504
Evilasio Pereira da Silva	PE	Fulni-ô	PPS	487
José Adalberto Silva	RR	Macuxi	PC do B	2291
			Total votes:	4282

* Unit of the Federation

Indigenous candidates for the position of State Representative:
 

Name	UF*	People	Party	N. Votes
José Osair Sales (Siã)	AC	Kaxinawá	PV	742
Mario Karipuna	AP	Karipuna	PSB	1977
Francisco de Oliveira Lima	DF	Tabajara	PSL	85
José Alírio Gomes Índio	MG	Aranã	PMDB	396
Marta da Silva Vito	MS	Guarani-Kaiowá	PT	1462
Mariano Justino Marcos Terena	MS	Terena	PST	237
Laércio Marques Pereira	MS	Terena	PV	116
Lúcio Paiva Flores	MT	Terena	PT	779
Tapiet Kayapó	PA	Kayapó	PSB	309
Almir Narayamoga Suruí	RO	Suruí	PV	577
Clóvis Ambrósio	RR	Wapixana	PT	269
José França Miguel	RR	Makuxi	PRTB	273
Gilberto Pedrosa Lima	RR	Makuxi	PSD	37
Rodrigo Batista Pint	RR	Makuxi	PFL	341
Jonas de Souza Marcolino	RR	Makuxi	PFL	703
Sebastião Bento da Silva	RR	Wapixana	PFL	143
Gabriel Poti	SC	Guarani	PPS	643
			Total votes:	9089

* Unit of the Federation

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