The Strategic Training Course for Indigenous Leaders will last three months. For the state of Roraima, three leaders were appointed by the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), reaffirming the organization's commitment to the political, technical and strategic strengthening of indigenous peoples.
The participants from Roraima are: Alziene Militão, from the Guariba Community, Raposa region; Jonilson Bezerra, from the Pedra Branca Community, Serras region, Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land; and Hanenias Brito, from the Serra do Truaru Community, Murupu region.
The initiative strengthens the training of leaders in fundamental themes, such as the analysis of territories and conflicts, contributing directly to the defense of indigenous rights and the strengthening of community bases.
One of the activities of the course involved a visit to the University of the State of Amazonas (UEA). The action was accompanied by Kelliane Wapichana, General Tuxaua of the Indigenous Women's Movement, who reinforced the importance of training for leaders.
"The Indigenous Council of Roraima, as part of this organizational base, appointed three leaders to participate in this important training. We continue to invest in training as an instrument of autonomy, resistance and protection of our territories", highlighted the tuxaua.
The young Hanenias, from the Wapichana people, participates for the first time in the training. In addition to youth leadership, he is a communicator for the Wakywaa Network and intends to unite the knowledge acquired to strengthen actions in the region. Hanenias experiences the challenges of a territory demarcated into islands up close. Communities in the Murupu region have faced territorial invasions, expansion of agribusiness, cases of aerial application of pesticides close to the communities and difficulties in accessing natural resources due to the way in which the demarcation took place.
"Participating in this training strengthens me a lot as a young leader. I believe not only for me, but for the other participants as well. I am learning a lot about how to deal with conflict situations, among other issues, and all this I intend to pass on to my region after the training. I thank everyone for the trust and opportunity", Hanenias expressed.
The classes are face-to-face and held at the School of Social Sciences of the University of the State of Amazonas (ESO/UEA). About 30 leaders, between men and women, participate in the training, developed in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC Brasil), with resources from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), through the Amazon Fund.