Explore the vast range of titles available.

Even though the Federal Constitution of 1988 guarantees indigenous peoples the right to social policies, health care remains a field of tension in their relationship with the State. The need to ensure a participation guideline for the Brazilian National Health System and the inclusion of indigenous people in mechanisms of social control are widely defended. Thus, this article seeks to discuss the meanings of participation and reflect on the challenges of its configuration as social control within the scope of indigenous health. The analysis was based on health conference reports, bibliography related to the subject, and interviews with key actors. The research sought to shed light on the diversity of contexts, actors, and agendas involved in the five indigenous health conferences. We concluded that there was a shift in the conferences and their participation, which moved towards a more bureaucratic performance within the strict boundaries established by the government. Even so, it is essential to value the power contained in the mechanisms of social control, which not coincidentally are the objects of disputes brought forward by the most conservative groups in society. In this sense, it is necessary to value, occupy, and transform these spaces.

Resumo Embora a Constituição Federal de 1988 assegure aos povos indígenas o direito às políticas sociais, a saúde permanece um campo de tensão no trato desses povos com o Estado. Muito se tem defendido a necessidade de garantir a diretriz de participação no Sistema Único de Saúde e a inserção dos indígenas nos mecanismos de controle social. Dessa forma, este trabalho busca contribuir com o debate sobre os sentidos da participação e refletir sobre os desafios da sua configuração como controle social no âmbito da saúde indígena. A análise foi feita com base nos relatórios das conferências de saúde, na bibliografia afeita ao tema e em entrevistas realizadas com atores-chave. A pesquisa buscou lançar luz sobre a diversidade dos contextos, dos atores e das pautas das cinco conferências de saúde indígena realizadas. Concluímos que houve um deslocamento na participação nas conferências para uma atuação mais burocrática dentro dos estritos limites estabelecidos pela gestão. Ainda assim, é fundamental valorizarmos a potência contida nos mecanismos do controle social, que não à toa são objetos de combate dos grupos mais conservadores da sociedade. Neste sentido, há que se valorizar tais espaços, ocupá-los e transformá-los. Abstract Even though the Federal Constitution of 1988 guarantees indigenous peoples the right to social policies, health care remains a field of tension in their relationship with the State. The need to ensure a participation guideline for the Brazilian National Health System and the inclusion of indigenous people in mechanisms of social control are widely defended. Thus, this article seeks to discuss the meanings of participation and reflect on the challenges of its configuration as social control within the scope of indigenous health. The analysis was based on health conference reports, bibliography related to the subject, and interviews with key actors. The research sought to shed light on the diversity of contexts, actors, and agendas involved in the five indigenous health conferences. We concluded that there was a shift in the conferences and their participation, which moved towards a more bureaucratic performance within the strict boundaries established by the government. Even so, it is essential to value the power contained in the mechanisms of social control, which not coincidentally are the objects of disputes brought forward by the most conservative groups in society. In this sense, it is necessary to value, occupy, and transform these spaces.