The Wayuri Network of Indigenous Communicators, which has been operating for five years in the Middle and Upper Rio Negro region, in Amazonas, is growing and now focuses on strengthening itself and exploring different communication formats.
After intense days of work at the V Communication Workshop, which took place from January 23 to 27 at the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) headquarters in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, communicators from various ethnic groups – such as Wanano, Tukano, Baré, Hupda, Yanomami, Baniwa – approved a Charter of Principles, a document that organizes the structure of the indigenous communication collective.
During the meeting, the various forms of communication used in the region were discussed, from the radio pole to TikTok, passing through the podcast. Digital security, context and strengthening of indigenous policy and communication as a way of protecting the territory were also the focus of conversations.
See how the Wayuri Network meeting went:
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One of the guests at the Wayuri Network workshop was Denilson Baniwa, considered one of the main contemporary artists in the country. Born in Barcelos, in the Rio Negro region, he had an inspiring conversation with the communicators, comparing the craft of communication to building boats, extremely useful work on the Rio Negro, since the paths – and communication – take place along the rivers .
“Communication is as important as knowing how to fix a boat. They are different tools and knowledge that have the same importance for our survival, our struggle, our movement,” she said.
At the opening of the meeting, the blessing of the connoisseur Luiz Laureano, from the Baniwa people, marked the beginning of the work. Shortly after the ceremony, the documentary Wayuri was released – about the first five years of the network. The images – many taken by the communicators – show the faces and voices of indigenous communicators who navigate the waters of the Rio Negro and the most diverse means of communication, bringing culture and information forward.
The film also shows the network’s activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, which earned Wayuri the title of world communication hero, awarded by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
In addition, the 2022 State of Law Award, from the World Justice Project (WJP), was awarded in the city of The Hague, in the Netherlands, and which has now reached the hands of communicators. The CEO of Foirn, Marivelton Barroso, from the Baré people, and the director of Foirn, Janete Alves, delivered the award to Cláudia Wanano and other communicators from the headquarters and bases.
The communicator Ray Baniwa, who has been part of the Wayuri Network since its inception, spoke about his trajectory and the achievements of the communication collective. He created the visual identity of V Oficina de
Communication.
Governance
Collectively created, the governance document of the Wayuri Network follows the network’s way of working, which bears this characteristic in its name. In Nheengatu – one of the languages spoken on the Rio Negro – Wayuri means “collective work”.
“I feel that the Wayuri Network is maturing and moving towards doing various types of work with the participation of communicators. And, for us to welcome these new projects, we need a structure and a governance document”, said Cláudia Ferraz, from the Wanano people, communicator and coordinator of the Wayuri Network.
An initial version of the governance document was prepared throughout 2022 by Wayuri Network communicators – in partnership with ISA and support from Reporters Without Borders. After the document was read and discussed, it received the suggestions brought by the communicators.
During the debates, the communicators showed that they want a network that really represents the 23 indigenous peoples of the Rio Negro and proposed, for example, that the document have points on the production of content in indigenous languages and ethnic and gender equity in the composition of the collective and in the offices.
The articulator and communicator Hélio Lopes, from the Tukano people, raised the concern about the participation of the Hupda peoples, considered of recent contact. “These people live in more distant areas, but we must organize ourselves to enable their participation”, he said.
The Charter of Principles was forwarded to Foirn, which will evaluate the document in consultation with the Board of Directors. The Wayuri Network is linked to Foirn and has a partnership with ISA.
About 70 communicators and collaborators from the urban areas of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Santa Isabel do Rio Negro and Barcelos and communities in areas of Foirn’s regional coordination offices participated in the workshop – held by ISA in partnership with Foirn: Diawii, Coidi, Nadzoeri, Caimbrn and Caibarnx.
miscellaneous communication
In this edition of the meeting, the communicators themselves had the opportunity to give a workshop. Supported by geographer Jéssica Lozovei, the indigenous people Irinelson Piloto, Tukano, Plínio Guilherme, Baniwa, and Josy Pereira, Tariano, passed on their knowledge in a pole-radio workshop, equipment set up with megaphones and widely used in the communities.
A radio pole manual was launched, also prepared together with the communicators. The equipment used in the workshop was donated to the Caibarnx coordination office, the only one that still did not have this equipment in its coverage area. The choice was made in an assembly vote.
Plínio Baniwa, who has been part of the network since the beginning, passed on knowledge to other communicators, especially younger ones. “We, who have been part of the Wayuri Network for the longest time, are seeing young people arriving. This means that we are moving forward ”, he celebrated.
Young leader of the Desana people, Adelina Sampaio led a workshop on graphics – an important form of communication for the people of Rio Negro. “These graphics signify joy and are used in festive moments,” she explained.
To enrich the discussions, the indigenous digital influencer Christian Wariu, from the Xavante people, spoke about his work and gave a workshop on videos for social networks.
Christian Wariu also brought his experience in social networks. “Many content creators, communicators, influencers, are around a very empty thing that is the influence of numbers: who has more followers. I think indigenous communicators have a different view [pois estão dedicados à] use of these tools in favor of something, whether in favor of the movement, the dissemination of their own culture or the denunciation of threats to their territories”, he reflected.
In his workshop, Wariu guided communicators to produce short videos for TikTok, covering the entire process, such as script building, recording and editing. The groups produced videos with themes about culture, projects and local experiences.
Partners
The realization of the V Workshop of the Wayuri Network had the support of GIZ (German International Cooperation) and the presence of the organization’s technical advisor, Sarah Flister, who brought to the discussion topics such as digital security and communication for the defense of territories, showing technological tools that can used as a resource by indigenous peoples.
One of the projects presented was the Living Territories, which has among its proposals the dissemination of information through the Traditional Territories Platform. Flister also presented the DEK platform, which makes it possible to identify digital content of dubious security, combating fake news and other problems.
The meeting was also accompanied by Diálogo Brasil, an institution that supports the Wayuri Network with the project Journey of Communication for Indigenous Organizations, focused on indigenous communication networks. “The Wayuri Network is a model and inspiration for other networks, for having a structure established five years ago and for operating in an extensive territory”, said Dirce Quintino, from Diálogo.
Journalist, podcaster and head of the production company Vem de Audio, Letícia Leite, who has followed Rede Wayuri since its inception, also participated in the workshop through Diálogo Brasil. She spoke with communicators about the podcast format and brought reflections on the scenario of indigenous politics in the country, with the change of government and the creation of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples.
An example of a cited podcast is that of Sumaúma, a communication agency focused on defending the Amazon and its peoples. The program is anchored by the Wayuri Network communicator, Elizângela Baré.
“At Sumaúma I work with journalists who have graduated, went to college. But we are also graduates of our stories, our myths, our territory, our place of origin”, he said in conversation with the communicators.
Unicamp journalist, Juliana Sangion talked to students about indigenous entrance exams and about the Ecoa Maloca podcast, developed by indigenous university students.
Who makes the Wayuri Network
Currently, the main production of the Wayuri Network of Indigenous Communicators is the weekly radio program Papo da Maloca, which airs on FM 92.7, in São Gabriel, with production and narration by Cláudia Ferraz and Juliana Albuquerque, from the Baré people. Then, the program is edited by Cláudia Wanano and is available on audio platforms such as the Wayuri podcast.
The communicators Adelson Ribeiro, from the Tukano people, Irinelson Piloto, from the Tukano people, and Álvaro Socot, from the Hupda people, support this and other productions. The Network also produces content for Instagram, where live coverage of the presidential election in São Gabriel da Cachoeira was concentrated.
In 2022, another highlight was the participation of communicators in exchanges, including those carried out with the support of the RSF organization.
Until last year, the Wayuri Network had five scholarship holders working from São Gabriel da Cachoeira and around 50 volunteers. Starting this year, the network will increase the number of fellows working in indigenous territories and in urban areas, getting closer and closer to its collaborative work with volunteers.