Digital culture is not only upholding Indigenous culture but helping Indigenous people to thrive while maintaining their communal sense of rooted pride.
In Brazil, according to IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), Indigenous communities account for almost 900,000 people, with many of these communities fighting for basic rights to territory while also combating discrimination and a prevailing prejudice. The strength we see from these communities comes from a place of exclusion, whether related to their place (or lack of) in modern society, or the forced removal of their communities and territories.
This has placed them in a situation of complete isolation, often for their own protection and for preserving the culture and traditions of these peoples. Yet within this scenario, there is an opportunity for technology to aid in amplifying their voices, making themselves visible on a global scale.
With technology boosting their visibility, we see Indigenous people rising to the role of cultural influencers. Names such as Lídia Guajajara, of the Guajajara people in Araribóia Indigenous territory in southern Maranhão, stand out by using available technology and digital platforms to make their local reality mainstream. ‘As an Indigenous communicator and influencer, I am occupying spaces, using communication as a tool to give visibility to the struggle of the Indigenous peoples of Brazil,’ says Guajajara.
