Peasant and indigenous organizations gathered at the Escuela Ñande Kokue in Montecarlo, Misiones, between July 23 and 25, 2026, to confront the expansion of extractivist models across Argentine territories. According to declarations issued at the conclusion of the three-day congress, participants united to oppose legislative changes advanced by the government under Javier Milei.
Legislative Battles and Territorial Sovereignty
The congress focused heavily on national policies that organizers argue threaten domestic sovereignty and communal resources. According to participating groups, the administration’s legislative agenda includes a modified glacier protection law, a regressive labor reform, and a proposed repeal of the land law. Organizers state that repealing the land law would enable the uncontrolled foreign acquisition of strategic areas coveted by global technology monopolies.
Participants also targeted provincial complicity, noting that federal policies succeed because regional governors regularly supply the congressional votes required for approval. Consequently, the assembly formally demanded that senators representing Misiones reject the repeal of the Land Law and protect national territory.
Resistance and Grassroots Pedagogy
The host institution, Escuela Ñande Kokue, has experienced recurring threats of eviction over the years, with the most recent attempt occurring weeks prior to the gathering. That eviction was blocked through resistance by the peasant movement and solidarity from more than 450 organizations across Argentina and abroad.
Alongside the peasant delegations, the Indigenous Coordinator addressed the assembly regarding community survival. According to participating indigenous representatives, communities face severe challenges, including a lack of school facilities, polluted rivers, and an urgent need for potable water wells while extractive companies operate nearby.
Popular education serves as a central organizing tool for these groups. At Escuela Ñande Kokue, students learn sustainable agriculture without agrochemicals, seed preservation, and land management directly through field labor. The event also hosted educators from Italy associated with the “Popular Schools in Movement” network, who shared local perspectives on real estate extractivism and tourism-driven displacement in Rome and its surrounding province.
Resolutions and Action Plan
At the close of the congress, the organizations formally adopted several resolutions:
- Rejection of the omnibus bill concerning private property rights, citing risks of foreign land acquisition and resource exploitation.
- Reaffirmation of the educational project advanced by the Movimiento Campesino de Liberación (MCL) and the Movimiento Pedagógico de Liberación (MPL).
- Support for peasant land struggles at Kilometer 85 of Provincial Route 18, specifically in Paraje Cerpa.
- Solidarity with the Mbya Guaraní people in their territorial defense and opposition to eviction threats, such as those facing the Puente Quemado community.
- Backing for upcoming direct action strikes organized by the MPL concerning educator salaries and sector debts.
Participants committed to planning a future joint congress focused on peasant, indigenous, and worker education.
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