From July 26 to 29, the Wakywai Meetings were held at the Lago Caracaranã Regional Center, Raposa Serra do Sol region, with the theme: "Checking Information". The event was held by the Communication Department of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), in partnership with the International Institute of Education of Brazil (IEB) and the Rooted in Trust Project, from Internews.
The main objective of the workshop was to strengthen the network of Wakywai indigenous communicators of the CIR, from the peoples: Wapichana, Macuxi, Patamona and Ye' Kuana, bringing information about concepts and diagnosis of the information ecosystem, analysis of rumors, focal points and combating misinformation about Covid-19. In addition to the technical ways to use tools in the production of cards, podcasts and how to conduct an interview.
Since indigenous communities understood the importance of having indigenous communicators, the CIR seeks to form and strengthen this network. And the advances in indigenous communication that is so urgent in the current scenario we live in are noticeable. This new training only came to strengthen communicators and grassroots leaders.
The general coordinator of the CIR, Edinho Batista, of the Macuxi people, highlighted the importance of having indigenous communicators at the base. We have a powerful "weapon" that is communication. Equip and form the space in real time in the regions. "Spread what we are. Feel valued and capable. Don't feel ashamed. We have strengthened communicators. Show our beauty, because we have good things. Value and honor to continue marching. We have a strong clash in the regions about the struggle for land. We will continue to strengthen ourselves", reported Edinho.
Communicators in training, at the Lago Caracaranã regional center, Raposa Serra do Sol indigenous land.
For the media mentor of the Rooted in Trust Project, from Internews Bryan Araújo, he spoke about the partnership between CIR and Internews. Where he highlighted that one of Internews' roles is to support local communicators and those from other countries. Because it is an organization that is installed in more than 100 countries, strengthening other communicators. That they are only offering for communicators to develop their activities in the communities and take what is needed in terms of training.
"Within the Rooted in Trust project, we are working to combat disinformation, to combat the infodemic scenario. In this sense, we went through some workshops that address this aspect of combating disinformation. In addition to some interview techniques. And take the essential aspects in the fight against disinformation", he highlighted.
The CIR, IEB and Internews partnerships for this important continuing education.
The communicators of the Wakywai Network received training in the production of posters and podcasts. The executive coordination of the CIR, Edinho Macuxi and Enock Taurepang were participating and strengthening the struggle of indigenous communication.
The IEB's communication advisor, Luana Luise, commented that we are currently living in an information war, the World Health Organization (WHO) itself declared that the current times present themselves with infodemic, an excess of information. "So today the struggle is no longer only in the territory, it also permeates the field of communication. These workshops with indigenous communicators from the state of Roraima represented an important moment of reflection on the current context in which we live on the challenges we face. It was very important to see this network of communicators strengthened, these workshops represent an important moment in the struggle of indigenous peoples and the IEB together with Internews and the CIR feel very honored to have participated in this process", she concluded.
27 communicators from the Surumú, Serra da Lua, Serras, Baixo Cotingo, Raposa, Murupú, Tabaio, Amajarí and CIFCRSS regions participated.