BRIEF HISTORY: The Communication Department is part of the organizational structure of the CIR, created decades ago, specifically in the 80s and 90s, as an instrument for disseminating local indigenous issues, especially the struggle for land, the violence committed against indigenous peoples and the constant invasions of territories, in addition to informing indigenous communities about the performance of the CIR at the local, regional, national and international levels, as shown in the first newsletters called "Anna Yakaré- Nossa Notícia", in the Macuxi language, originated by the Information Center of the Diocese of Roraima (CIDR) and produced with information provided by the CIR. According to the organization's Internal Regulations, in article 28, it is incumbent on the Communication Department, among other functionalities, to present work proposals, aiming at improving the service of the communication services developed by the entity, to prepare newsletters and journalistic materials aimed at promoting and defending the organization, to disseminate information to indigenous communities, contacts on the situation of indigenous peoples, to provide journalistic coverage of internal and external events of greater expressiveness and/or interest to the indigenous peoples of Roraima, in addition to seeking information from the CIR departments on the activity of disseminating the work of the CIR and the communities and to advise on expanded meetings, general assemblies of the Tuxauas and community meetings.
The composition of the Communication Department of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) has gone through different phases throughout its trajectory, following the political and institutional processes of the organization and the strengthening of indigenous communication over the years.
Along this path, journalists Pablo Sérgio, Antonia Costa, Jessé Souza, Paula Brenha and André Vasconcelos have passed through the Department, working sporadically or permanently, as well as Communication assistant Davison Buckley, from the Wapichana people, recognized as the first indigenous communicator to work in the sector. Also part of the team, at different times, were Ariene dos Santos Lima, journalist and first indigenous master in Communication in Brazil; photojournalist Caique Pinho; and Journalism student Ellie Gomes de Castro, from the Macuxi people, who worked as a Communication and social media assistant, contributing to the CIR's communication actions in their respective periods.
Between 2016 and 2018, indigenous journalist Mayra Wapichana was part of the Department of Communication, marking an important moment in the consolidation of indigenous communication in the CIR. Her work represented a significant advance in strengthening indigenous protagonism in the field of communication. In 2019, Mayra became part of the communication team of the parliamentary mandate of former federal deputy Joenia Wapichana, the first indigenous federal deputy in Brazil, which boosted a new process of reorganization of the Department.
With this process of change, the organization began to consistently strengthen the performance of indigenous professionals in communication, structuring a new institutional phase of the CIR's Communication Department, marked by technical improvement, internal organization, and alignment with the political demands of the indigenous movement.
Currently, the Communication Department is made up of an entirely indigenous team, composed of Márcia Fernandes, journalist and master in Communication; Helena Leocádio, from the Wapichana people, journalist and Communication advisor; Charles Nogueira, from the Taurepang people, Communication assistant and coordinator of the Department; and Maciel Luiz de Souza, from the Macuxi people, who works as a photojournalist.
The current composition represents a political and institutional advance of the CIR, consolidating indigenous communication as a strategic instrument for strengthening the struggles, identity and autonomy of the indigenous peoples of Roraima. Aligned with the indigenous cause and professional commitment, the team projects indigenous communication as a tool for advocacy, resistance and affirmation in the territories, in Roraima, in the Amazon and in Brazil.
History
WAKYWAA NETWORK
The Wakywaa Network of Indigenous Communicators (name in the Wapichana language) is an instrument of struggle and indigenous visibility, composed of young communicators, indicated by their grassroots leaders. The consolidation and structuring took place after training activities involving meetings, seminars and workshops, with specific agendas in the area of communication, promoted by the Communication Department of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) and partners.
Network consolidation process
The first workshop took place on March 1, 2019 with the theme "Construction of the Anna Yakaré Newsletter" (name in the Macuxi language), the oldest newspaper circulated by the CIR. The workshop was attended by 12 communicators from six ethnic regions (Raposa, Serra da Lua, Tabaio, Baixo Cotingo, Serras and Murupu). The second stage of the workshop took place on August 2, 2019, with the participation of 10 indigenous communicators from Serra da Lua, Murupu, Surumu, Tabaio, Baixo Cotingo and Amajari.
To materialize the existence of the Network, the communication department held from January 28 to 30, 2020, in the Pium community (Tabaio region), the I State Seminar of Indigenous Communicators of Roraima, with the theme: "Writing our own stories".
Over the years, the Network has consolidated with 30 communicators from the Serra da Lua, Raposa, Surumu, Tabaio, Baixo Cotingo, Amajari and Murupu regions, appointed by their grassroots leaders. From the state seminar, the participants left with the mission of returning to their regions and introducing themselves to local leaders as indigenous communicators.
Historical moments
Another historic step was the presentation of the communicators at the 49th General Assembly of the Indigenous Peoples of Roraima, from March 11 to 14, 2020, at the Lago Caracaranã regional center, Raposa region, Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, with the theme: "Marching with firm steps: for the realization of our Original, Constitutional Rights, in the 112 treaties and in the International Conventions". The group captured images, prepared texts and videos and shared them on digital platforms (social networks) of the ethnoregions that make up the Wakywaa Network.
The name "Wakywaa Network"
Since then, the Network has started to operate in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. This reflects the difficulties faced in carrying out the work, at the same time that the need for communication and the circulation of information have become even more urgent. The first meeting to align the performance and choose the name took place on July 21, 2020 (via digital platform). It is important to highlight that, at that first moment, many of the communicators had already suffered losses of close people in their communities and regions due to Covid-19. The other meeting took place on August 21, 2020, but the choice of the name only took place on August 25, 2020, after the teams were divided by regions.
The participants presented their proposals in the Macuxi and Wapichana indigenous languages, and chose by vote via WhatsApp application the name "Wakywaa", in Wapichana language and which means "Our News" in Portuguese. The choice was also a historic recognition of the CIR's first printed publication initiative, this time being designated in the language of the second largest indigenous people in Roraima.
Education
The Wakywaa Indigenous Communicators Network is made up of 35 indigenous communicators from seven regions of the State of Roraima. The principle of the Network is to be a front for indigenous activism, producing content for the defense of the rights of indigenous peoples through communication.