The Enawenê-Nawê and Opan

The Enawenê-Nawê live in a region of transition between the Cerrado, as the savannas of Central Brazil are called, and the Equatorial forest. They occupy an area of approximately 740,000 hectares, located on the valley of the Juruena River, one of the rivers that form the Tapajós, on the Northwest corner of the State of Mato Grosso. In this territory the Enawenê-Nawê live in a single village, currently established on the left margin of the Iquê River.

However, throughout the annual cycle, they perform a great number of productive and ceremonial activities away from their village, thus using various parts of their territory.

Opan's work

The support given by the NGO Operação Amazônia Nativa - Operation Native Amazon - (Opan) to the Enawenê-Nawê aims at promoting Indian actions in the areas of health, education, economics and control of their territory.

In 1995 a process of teaching reading and writing in the native language began. This program is unique in the sense that it was not accompanied by the creation of a defined school space. More recently, by express demand from the Enawenê-Nawê and taking into account the intensification of contacts with the encroaching society, the teaching of the Portuguese language and math was begun, as well as a systematic work of discussion of the political, economic and epidemiological aspects of the region and of the country.

In order to defend their lands, Opan develops with the Enawenê-Nawê a program of inspection of the limits of their territory and of monitoring of the surrounding area.

Economically, internal production was increased through the planting of Brazil-nut trees and the introduction of new plants.

In partnership with the Centro de Trabalho Indigenista - Center of Indigenist Work - (CTI) and under the direction of anthropologist Virgínia Valadão, Opan made possible the filming of the video Yãkwa, o banquete dos espíritos (Yãkwa, banquet of the spirits).

(This page was elaborated from the text "O Povo Enawenê-Nawê; projetos e parcerias", by Pedro Henrique Passos e Márcio F. Silva)