How one indigenous community in Brazil is using tech to make their voices heard
In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, an indigenous community is telling their own stories to the world — through video.
To help the world see through their eyes — and to see what is important to the Munduruku People. This is the goal of a group of young Munduruku Indigenous People learning to make their own films.
The Munduruku are Indigenous People fighting for their land to be properly recognized by the Brazilian government. They live in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, an area that is currently under threat from massive hydropower projects. There are more than 40 dams planned to be built in the region, which would not only destroy fauna and flora, but also seriously affect the livelihoods of the Munduruku and other communities living along the river.
For one small group of Munduruku youth, the idea to make their own videos first arose during the self-demarcation process carried out by the Munduruku in 2014. They wanted to record the self-demarcation without depending on journalists.
So, in February this year, ten young people met in the village of Sawré Muybu to learn the basics of lighting, framing and sound through making videos about issues that the students considered important. “We will continue to make videos to show society the reality of the struggle of the Munduruku people” said Gleicy Korap Munduruku, 23.
“We are fighting for the demarcation of our land and for me the workshop was very good because, now that I have learned, I will be able to publish our videos myself and bring my knowledge to people in other villages too,” said Marunha Kirixi Munduruku, 26, who took part in the classes.
Watch the first video made by the new Munduruku Audiovisual Collective, about the importance of solar panels to their community.
You can stand with the Munduruku Indigenous People by adding your voice and asking the Brazilian government for the demarcation of their territory.
Luana Lila is a Communication Officer at Greenpeace Brazil
This workshop was a result of a collaboration between the Pariri Indigenous Association and Greenpeace Brazil
