“We all deserve a second chance.” With this theme, the Legal Department of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR) conducted an inspiring workshop with young people from Amazonas and Roraima, promoting listening and reflection exercises on dreams and overcoming challenges.
Legal advisor Júnior Nicácio opened the meeting with an interactive activity in which participants shared their dreams and experiences."Starting over is a powerful word.""He emphasized this, encouraging young people to look at themselves with more hope and courage."
Luciano Carlos, a young Wapichana man from the São Domingos community and an intern at CIR, moved the group by recounting his story of overcoming adversity:"Today I am living what I once dreamed of."
Lawyer Luciane Xavier proposed a symbolic activity: writing letters to one's "future self," with goals and wishes for the coming year."The letter represents a commitment to oneself, a first step.", explained Fernanda Félix, also from the Legal Department.
The coordinator of the Yanomami and Ye’kwana Sustainable Development Task Force, Dr. Ivo Macuxi, reinforced the importance of the topic for indigenous youth and shared his journey within the CIR and the indigenous movement.Words have power; they build our paths.
During the meeting with young Indigenous people from the Munduruku, Mura, Tariana, Tukano, and Apurinã peoples of the state of Amazonas, experiences of struggle and resistance, lived experiences and challenges in their territories were shared. The encounter was marked by powerful accounts of identity reaffirmation, resistance, and cultural pride.
The young people expressed their gratitude to the event organizers for the opportunity to exchange ideas and strengthen ties with the indigenous peoples of Roraima. Each person, in sharing their journey, carries not only their personal history but also the ancestral legacy of their people.
The activity reinforced the value of sharing knowledge among different peoples and the need to keep traditional memory and knowledge alive.
Young leader Sarah Munduruku highlighted the importance of identity pride and the use of communication as a tool for cultural appreciation.“We are together, strengthening our identity. It’s important not to be ashamed. I am an Indigenous communicator and I share on social media to show our struggle, culture, and to be proud of our people.”, he said.
The second day of the program concluded with the theme "Our Identity is Sacred," featuring Taurepang leadership and Ryan Arike.
Ryan Arike, from the Taxi indigenous community in the Surumu region of the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory, began his speech in the Macuxi language. He then shared personal experiences and expressed his gratitude to the leaders who gave him the opportunity to be present and participate.
He highlighted the importance of the table as an essential space for the young people present at the assembly to learn to value their own identity and culture. Whether through the use of traditional instruments, such as mutamba flutes, or the strengthening of their mother tongue, keeping the legacy of the elders alive is fundamental to preserving and strengthening the culture of indigenous peoples.
In closing, leader Enock Taurepang highlighted the importance of valuing the diversity of traditional paintings among different peoples.