FAS develops projects that value indigenous athletes from the Amazon

amazon – Indigenous cultures are the basis of Amazonian identity. First inhabitants and guardians of the land, the people of the region dominate ancient techniques, arts and knowledge, which are largely disqualified and ignored by society. Taking care of the Amazon and its biodiversity involves recognizing the demarcation of Indigenous Lands and knowing, valuing and learning from ancestral knowledge and practices that remain current and help to conserve the forest.

For 15 years, Fundação Amazônia Sustentável (FAS) has been developing and supporting projects that reinforce the cultural values ​​of indigenous peoples. Created by the institution, the Indigenous Archery Project trains young people in communities and in the Amazon to practice archery as a sport. Sport is a way for current generations to reconnect or delve deeper into a tradition and a source of self-esteem and pride, against the grain of oblivion.

A versatile instrument, which serves from common tasks of hunting and fishing, to religious and protection purposes, in the hands of indigenous youth, the bow and arrow takes on new meanings and reveals talents, such as those of Graziela Yaci Santos. In 2019, the athlete from the Karapanã people went down in history as the first indigenous woman in the history of Brazil in Archery (official name of the sport) in a Pan American Championship.

Participating in the project since 2014, Graziela was prepared by professionals from the Associação Amazonense de Arco and received support to compete in regional, national and international competitions. Among them, the 2018 South American Games, in Bolivia, in which she was a gold medalist twice, and the Archery Grand Prix of Mexico, which earned her a silver medal.

Also belonging to the Karapanã people, Gustavo Santos is another athlete revealed by Archaearia Indígena. In 2022, the 25-year-old, who accumulates medals in tournaments in the category, was called up for the Brazilian Archery Team.

“FAS is one of my main partners. They were the ones who believed in us and sent us to competitions, even when we had a low level, we competed and we didn’t win anything”,

recalls the athlete.

In the decade of the project, Archearia Indígena supported 37 athletes, who participated in 21 competitions and won 52 medals in the modality. The project has the support of the Amazonas de Alto Rendimento Foundation (FAAR) and the Amazon Archery Federation (Fatarco).

Indigenous Canoeing

A sister initiative, Indigenous Canoeing and its athletes have also been gaining prominence in tournaments in Brazil, strengthening the ties between traditional cultures and sport. In 2022, the indigenous Thais Pontes Yacitua was a gold medalist on two occasions, at the Copa Brasil Controle Nacional and at the Interclubs Canoeing Speed ​​Championship, held in Minas Gerais and Bahia.

The athlete from the Kambeba people and her brothers, Antônio Weu (bronze medalist in the same competitions) and Tailo Xirir, were invited to participate in the national competition after participating that year in the 2nd Indigenous Canoeing Championship, organized by FAS in partnership with the Brazilian Confederation of Canoeing (CBCa) and the Embassy of Ireland.

After the previous year full of achievements, the next goal of the young athletes is to qualify for the Olympics. “I will train in the afternoon and in the morning to see if I can make it to a World Olympics”says Antonio.

For the FAS Indigenous Agenda supervisor, Rosa dos Anjos, the results “they are received with great joy, because they show us that the project is really working. We already knew the potential of these curumins and wedges and we believe in them”.

The Canoagem Indígena project was conceived by FAS and is carried out in partnership with CBCa. The initiative has already benefited 68 indigenous and riverside athletes from the Três Unidos, Nova Kuanã and São Sebastião communities, located in the Rio Negro Environmental Protection Area (APA).

About the FAS

The Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS) is a non-profit civil society organization that works for the sustainable development of the Amazon through programs and projects in the areas of education and citizenship, health, empowerment, research and innovation, environmental conservation, community infrastructure, entrepreneurship and income generation.

FAS’s mission is to contribute to the conservation of the biome by valuing the standing forest and its biodiversity and by improving the quality of life of the populations of the Amazon. In 2023, the institution completes 15 years of operation with outstanding numbers, such as the 202% increase in the average income of thousands of beneficiary families and the 40% drop in deforestation in areas served between 2008 and 2021.

*With advisory information

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