As part of a project entitled “Heritage and Territoriality: Past, present and future perceptions among the Tacana, Tsimane', Mosetén and Waiwai,” Jaimes Betancourt and her team of ecologists, archaeologists and anthropologists are conducting research into the importance of cultural heritage among indigenous peoples. The project is running with the involvement of three such peoples from Bolivia—Tacana, Tsimane' and the Moseten—and one from Brazil, the Waiwai. The researchers are keen to understand how the indigenous peoples perceive and treasure their cultural heritage, be it of a tangible or intangible nature. This includes their knowledge, their means of expression and their traditions, which are closely linked to their identity and beliefs. This reappraisal and acknowledgment of their heritage is crucial for ensuring the survival of their culture and making it stronger.
Whereas the focus in the past two years has been on Bolivia, this year the team is on the road in Brazil, specifically in the Waiwai homeland of Trombetas-Mapuera. Located in the state of Roraima, this indigenous territory borders two other states—Pará and Amazonas—and lies not far from Guyana. Always working in consultation with the local Waiwai, Jaimes Betancourt and her team are using lidar (“light detection and ranging”) technology to map the region. The land is being surveyed with the aid of an airborne drone-mounted laser scanner that sends about 1.5 million laser pulses a second. When the data is analyzed, any vegetation is “removed” to produce a digital model of the Earth’s surface that can also be depicted as a 3D image.
Update on December 5, 2024: The researchers led by Jaimes Betancourt are now back in Germany after their Amazon expedition and have provided answers to the questions that were submitted:
To what extent were Waiwai archaeologists and anthropologists involved in the project?
Community researchers in Bolivia and indigenous researchers in Brazil are the key actors in the project. They do research in their own languages, travel through their territories and document aspects of local archaeology, anthropology and ecology. As well as engaging in intercultural dialogue with researchers from Bolivia and Brazil, they also visited museums in Europe to evaluate collections in order to make links between the objects held there and the indigenous communities that they come from. Alexander Waiwai is doing a doctorate in Anthropology at the Federal University of Amazonas. For a few years now, it has been training indigenous anthropologists who are working to promote indigenous viewpoints and decolonize research. Jaime Waiwai is also working toward a doctorate in Archaeology, and the pair are significantly expanding our knowledge of and enriching our approach to how the cultural heritage of the past and present is perceived.
On what issues should we pay more attention to indigenous peoples?
Indigenous peoples are equipped with a traditional knowledge that can be regarded as a form of science. On their land, they have developed a profound understanding of nature, plants and animals and how to treat them all sustainably. Most importantly, we should learn from their ability to create and preserve biodiversity. Indigenous peoples settled the Amazon over 10,000 years ago, and several regions were home to sparsely populated towns and large villages as far back as 1,000 years ago. These communities have left behind a unique heritage in the form of their knowledge, and I think we should treasure this wisdom and their philosophy on life.
Are you afraid of “corrupting” indigenous peoples by bringing them into contact with Western civilization?
Working in indigenous areas is subject to strict ethical protocols and requires permits from various institutions. Researchers must obey the communities’ rules and respect their customs. For example, we are not allowed to smoke or drink alcohol during our stay.
The remoteness of these areas from the towns and cities acts as a natural barrier. However, one of the biggest threats is people moving onto the land illegally to exploit its resources, such as gold miners, whose activities are polluting the rivers. These rivers are absolutely vital to the indigenous peoples, not only as a source of water but also as an integral part of their way of life.
Another aspect that needs taking into account is the impact of the Internet, which nearly all the communities now have access to. Although it presents possibilities for communicating and learning, it also harbors risks due to harmful content being shared on social networks—a challenge that is facing the whole world, not just indigenous territories.
Post on November 7 — the journey begins:
What approach are you taking to your research?
We’re working closely with Waiwai archaeologists and anthropologists and bringing them on board as key players in the project. Both before we start and while we’re researching, we discuss everything with them openly and get their consent. We use methods that are attuned to the language and the unique cultural needs of the communities and make sure we respect their intellectual property rights.
The project is underpinned by decolonial theory, which values the knowledge and views of indigenous peoples. We want to promote self-determination and sovereignty among the communities. Our research is being developed and adapted with the communities themselves so that their needs are put front and center. Our methodology makes sure that the indigenous peoples’ knowledge is protected and respected and that a safe space is created where everyone can speak openly in a spirit of trust. Thus we are enriched by their ideas and beliefs while they benefit from our scientific knowledge.
How do you get there?
It’s a long journey. First, I have to get to Manaus, which is an 18-hour flight via São Paulo. The next day, we take the car to Entre Rios in the state of Roraima. It’s about an eight-hour drive on a two-lane road that’s not always asphalted. You see some very varied scenery en route: There’s no vegetation where the haciendas are, just pastureland for the cattle. In the indigenous territories, by contrast, the forest is very thick—it looks like a big green wall.
From Entre Rios, all our luggage has to be taken by boat because it’s so heavy. The team splits up: four people take the boat, the other four go on motorbikes. The road that the motorbikes follow is more direct, but it’s in a poor condition and full of potholes.
What are your living arrangements like there?
The Waiwai community have a house in the village of Jatapuzinho where the offices are. On the first floor are a few rooms in which you can hang hammocks, where the “white people” or “Karawa”—which is what they call us—can sleep. All of us have brought a hammock and mosquito net with us.
Do you take provisions, or do the Waiwai feed you?
The food in the village is very good. On the first day, we’ll be treated to some fish. I eat a lot of produce made from local cassava. We also eat palm fruit. Some things, like oil, rice, pasta, sugar and salt we’ll have bought in Entre Rios.
What are you most looking forward to, and what will you miss?
I’m looking forward to the beauty of the Amazon region: the scenery, the smells, the river swims, the delicious fresh food. I’ve lived and traveled between Germany and Latin America for a long time now and have learned not to miss anything, just to enjoy what we have in each place. I have to admit that, when I’m in Germany, I sometimes miss seeing smiling faces on the people on the street. People in Brazil smile a lot…