Between August 5th and 8th, 2024, the city of Imperatriz (MA) hosted the first module of the "Voices of Gurupi" training program, an initiative of the Management and Restoration in the Gurupi Mosaic project, promoted by the Institute for Society, Population and Nature (ISPN) in partnership with the Coordination of Organizations and Articulations of Indigenous Peoples of Maranhão (Coapima). The action has the financial support of the Copaíbas program, an initiative of the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (Funbio).
The meeting focused on discussing the management processes of the nine Indigenous projects, representing the six Indigenous Territories that are part of the Gurupi Mosaic, covered by the initiative. The training addressed principles and best practices in management, resource and personnel administration, and promoted activities that facilitated understanding of the topics covered. Project governance was also discussed, aiming to familiarize Indigenous managers with the management structure and the relationship between partners and the funder.
The event brought together thirty participants from the following indigenous associations: Gurupi Indigenous Women's Association (AMIG) and Tembé Aitatzuhu Association, from the Alto Rio Guamá Indigenous Land (PA); Ka'apor Ta Huri Association and Kaky Indigenous Association, from the Alto Turiaçu Indigenous Land (MA); Wirazu Association and Arari Indigenous Association, from the Caru Indigenous Land (MA); Mainumy Association and Wirapuru Association, from the Rio Pindaré Indigenous Land (MA); and Nairuy Taw Indigenous Association, from the Araribóia Indigenous Land (MA).
Also present were representatives from the Regional Coordination and the Awá Ethno-environmental Protection Front, both from the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai), the Remar organization, the Copaíbas-Funbio Program, and the Deputy Secretariat for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, linked to the State Secretariat for Human Rights and Popular Participation (Sedihpop) of Maranhão.
“The project we are developing will be fundamental for monitoring our territory. As this is the first time I have led an initiative like this, the workshop was essential to understanding how everything works. The dynamics and classes were very enriching, and I am excited to apply what we have learned,” highlighted Valter Tembé, from the Aitatzuhu Association.
Management and Restoration at the Gurupi Mosaic
The nine indigenous associations are leading projects focused on territorial management and restoration in the Gurupi Mosaic, a group of protected areas encompassing the Amazon region of Maranhão and eastern Pará. These actions are part of the Management and Restoration in the Gurupi Mosaic project, which seeks to implement Territorial and Environmental Management Plans (PGTAs), forest and agroforestry restoration initiatives, institutionally strengthen indigenous organizations, and promote territorial protection and monitoring. All these actions are aligned with the principles of... National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands (PNGATI)which was also discussed in a group conversation during the module.
These initiatives help mitigate the pressures on the Gurupi Mosaic, one of the ten most critical areas of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, where biodiversity, environmental services, and the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional communities are constantly threatened. The two-year project promotes participatory actions that were developed in workshops held in the Indigenous Lands of the Gurupi Mosaic.
According to João Guilherme Nunes Cruz, coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Program at ISPN, this initiative seeks to strengthen environmental and territorial management strategies led by indigenous peoples through their associations.
"The project also expands reflections and debates on the PNGATI (National Policy for the Management of Indigenous Lands) and the Gurupi Mosaic in the indigenous communities of the territories that are part of this territory," he emphasizes.
Furthermore, the project supports the political strengthening of Coapima, a partner indigenous institution, which will work directly in monitoring the projects, in parallel with its political advocacy agenda with the grassroots it represents.
“This initiative is very important because it strengthens our work in the territories and in our grassroots organizations. The workshop was very positive because it allowed Indigenous organizations to be empowered so that they can have more autonomy in project management, and that is a dream of all Indigenous people,” emphasizes Marcilene Guajajara, executive coordinator of Coapima.
Voices from Gurupi
The "Voices of Gurupi" training program consists of three modules: project management, strategic planning, and community communication. This training was developed to support indigenous associations in managing their projects, as well as establishing a communication plan that strengthens the dissemination of socio-environmental information and amplifies indigenous voices through their organizations. Collective 105[Institution Name], an institution specializing in communication and management for indigenous peoples and traditional communities, is responsible for carrying out this stage of the training. The next modules are scheduled for October and November of this year.