The Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), through the Indigenous Training and Culture Center Raposa Serra do Sol (CIFCRSS) and the Department of Territorial, Environmental and Climate Change Management (DGTAMC), was selected to receive the Indigenous Sciences Award from Podáali, the Indigenous Fund of the Brazilian Amazon, in category A, with the project Sustainable Agroforestry and Traditional Productions, from CIFCRSS, and in category C, with the project Collective of Indigenous Community Brigades of Roraima, from DGTAMC.
The Podáali team, comprised of communications advisor Ariene Susui, project technician Láiza Albuquerque, and filmmaker consultant Renato Helena, in partnership with Charles Nogueira, communicator from CIR, visited the CIR headquarters and projects located in the communities of Barro, Surumu region, Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, and Sucuba, Alto Cauamé region, between October 13th and 15th, with the objective of recording an institutional film about the actions undertaken and their results in the territory.
The administrative coordinator of CIFCRSS, Clemilse Taurepang, presented the Agroforestry System (SAF), where native timber and fruit-bearing plants are cultivated, in addition to traditional seeds, with the aim of reforesting areas degraded by fire and deforestation.
“For us, receiving this award is very gratifying and important. Showing that we are capable is a life project, not only for today, but for the future. It's a life project.”, stated Taurepang.
In addition to sustainable production, the award also recognized the work developed by DGTAMC with the Indigenous Community Brigades Collective of Roraima project.
The Pataxibas Women's Brigade, based in the Sucuba community in the Alto Cauamé region, received a visit from the team, who learned a little about the group's history. Created in 2024 with 22 members, the brigade's members now also work in the Wai Wai, Tabaio, Surumu, and Murupu regions, aiming to expand the training of new members and strengthen actions to prevent and combat forest fires in the communities, promoting environmental protection and the security of indigenous territories.
On that occasion, the Podáali team learned about the workings of the CIR Situation Room, a space that has been strengthening the care for the territory. It is there that the monitoring of fire outbreaks and weather conditions takes place, with the support of the Pantera system, which allows for satellite tracking of information. With each alert, the team mobilizes to relay the data to the regions and support the brigades in prevention and rapid response actions. This work, coordinated by firefighter Ana Paula Wapichana, has been essential to protecting the forests, communities, and life in indigenous territories.
Ana Paula states that the work of the Pataxiba people is of utmost importance within their territories, whether it be managing fire, giving lectures to communities, or promoting reforestation through the native seed nurseries they cultivate. She emphasizes:“We work by combining ancestral knowledge and technology. Receiving this award recognizes our work. It is a privilege as women. Take care of the planet and seek knowledge. We, the Pataxiba people, are the guardians of the forests; we are capable of caring for them and saying no to the devastation caused by fire and yes to reforestation and environmental care.”
Podáali continues visiting other initiatives in the nine states of the Legal Amazon region that have been awarded the Indigenous Sciences Prize – Ancestral Solutions for the Climate, the Amazon, and All Lives.