Governor of SC argues with indigenous people, gets angry and offends protester The governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello (PL), was filmed cursing indigenous people who were protesting at the dam in the city of José Boiteux, in the Itajaí Valley, which passes through a construction site and is within the traditional territory of the Xokleng people. The episode occurred on Wednesday (8) during the official schedule and was recorded on video (watch above). The first situation occurred while he was giving an interview, stating that he was "restoring everything that was destroyed by the indigenous people". Then, Jorginho interrupted his speech, looked in the direction of the protesters and said: "Go to the bitch who gave birth to him". ?Click and follow the g1 SC channel on WhatsApp Regarding what happened, the government of Santa Catarina stated in a statement that "a group of indigenous people approached the site in protest, with posters and various demands, including issues of federal responsibility and topics that are not directly linked to the state government". The statement, however, does not make references to the offenses made by the governor (see the full note at the end of the report). Swearing and arguments continued When resuming the interview, Jorginho said that the government "has never been in such a good phase". A woman questions his statements and the governor rebuts her: "don't you want to go to hell"? The woman responds that she is a chief and demands respect. The governor, in turn, asks: "What about me?" Governor Jorginho Mello insults indigenous people during a protest at the José Boiteux dam Reproduction Dam is located in a region historically affected by floods The so-called North Dam is in José Boiteux, a region that has historically suffered from flooding and floods. The structure is an instrument for containing the floods that eventually reach Blumenau, the most important city in the region, and neighboring municipalities. One point of impasse at the site is that the dam is in an area where indigenous people live, who are affected by the structure. The government says it has committed to building houses and other structures as a form of compensation to the local community for operating in the area. What the SC government says This Wednesday, July 8, Governor Jorginho Mello closely followed the renovation of the José Boiteux Dam, a project awaited for more than 20 years and considered strategic for the safety of thousands of residents of the Itajaí Valley. During the visit, a group of indigenous people approached the site in protest, with posters and various demands, including issues of federal responsibility and topics that are not directly linked to the State Government. The current administration highlights that it was the first, after three decades, to effectively take on the maintenance of the dam and to move forward in fulfilling an agreement signed around 20 years ago between the Federal Government, State Government and indigenous communities. According to the court agreement, 20 houses were planned. However, state management decided to expand these planned improvements. The agreed works include the construction of 91 houses, two churches and two pastoral houses: R$ 14.6 million; implementation and macadamization of the road that connects Aldeia Bugio to the municipality of José Boiteux, with a length of 7.5 kilometers and construction of a bridge: R$ 7 million; construction of the indigenous community school: R$6.5 million; construction of a museum, football pitch and toilets: R$5.5 million; school and museum project: R$217 thousand. In total, the State is investing around R$34 million in structural improvements in the Ibirama-La Klãnõ Indigenous Land, where José Boiteux's North Dam is located, fulfilling a judicial order from the 90s that should have been carried out by the Federal Government, through Funai, but has been neglected since then. Even in the face of demonstrations, the Government states that it will maintain the schedule for the renovation of the dam and houses, as it understands that the works are essential to protect lives and reduce the risk of flooding in the Itajaí Valley. VIDEOS: most watched g1 SC in the last 7 days