Rainforest Exchange: From Great Bear to the Amazon
First Nations leader voyages to Brazil to meet indigenous counterparts.

“You are a success- your community is doing what it wants through you.” These were some of the opening words that Kelly Brown from the Heiltsuk nation of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest shared with 14 indigenous students at the Amazon Indigenous Training Center (CAFI) as part of his week-long trip with indigenous leaders in the Brazilian Amazon. The exchange was facilitated by the Conservancy's Amazon Conservation Program in collaboration with partner, COIAB, the largest indigenous federation in the Brazilian Amazon.

In May, 2006, three indigenous leaders from COIAB conducted a five-day exchange with First Nations of the Great Bear Rainforest to experience first-hand their practices in ecosystem-based natural resource planning and management. During the trip, First Nation leaders expressed interest in visiting Brazil to learn more about Amazon indigenous people and the challenges they face. Kelly Brown, whose name in his native language means “standing before the elders,’’ and has served as a negotiator for the Heiltsuk tribal council, was invited to Brazil to learn about natural resource use in Amazon indigenous territories and share his people's land management experiences in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest.

First stops: CAFI and COIAB
Kelly’s trip began at the Amazon Indigenous Training Center (CAFI), where he met with indigenous students originating from nine states of the Brazilian Amazon who study Ethno-environmental Management. CAFI’s mission is to strengthen local and regional indigenous organizations by training young indigenous leaders to work in land management in their own territories. Assisted by a simultaneous translator, Kelly related facts about his tribe's cultural heritage and their struggle over the last century to obtain autonomy in natural resource management. Kelly told students,“if you keep doing the same things, you’ll always get the same results. Change is possible and we have to be strong in our efforts. You must promote empowerment through action, you must share your successes and make your successes known.’’

Kelly proceded to COIAB to meet with indigenous representatives. There he spoke of his role as a Heiltsuk leader in key negotiations with the Canadian government to obtain co-management of their territory and to establish natural resource management initiatives that generate local income, like salmon and timber industries run by the Heiltsuk themselves. “Over the last 15 years my people have made major headway in planning and negotiations for the use of our land and resources, we are taking important steps which are allowing us to progress despite difficulties."

Journey to Indigenous Communities
Accompanied by COIAB indigenous leaders, Kelly traveled to the territories of the Sateré-Mawé people in southern Amazonas state. In the first village, Kelly participated in the traditional rite-of-passage ceremony of Sateré-Mawé adolescents, the Tucandeira.

Kelly also ventured to local communities to learn about initiatives in resource management for local income generation. One initiative is the traditional management of guaraná, a native Amazonian berry used to make an energizing drink consumed throughout Brazil. The Sateré-Mawé explained how they created a cooperative that manages and commercializes guaraná from natural plantations using traditional knowledge.

Strengthening Land Management
After his week of travel, Kelly reflected on his trip and the future. When asked what he learned from his visit to the Amazon he says, "one thing we shared was the commonality that indigenous groups everywhere must take responsibility to address the needs of their own communities. We must ensure that there are proper planning processes happening in the villages and there is a concerted effort for change. Indigenous organizations, like the regional First Nations organization and COIAB, can be active in negotiations that help define land-use decision making processes and integrated protected areas."

For More Information

• Photo Slideshow: From Great Bear to the Amazon
  Accompany Kelly Brown's amazing visit to the Amazon in a digital slideshow.
• Where We Work: The Nature Conservancy in Brazil
  The Conservancy has worked in Brazil since 1988 and is collaborating with in-country partners to protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
• Partnerships: The Conservancy and traditional and indigenous communities
  Learn about the Conservancy's work with traditional and indigenous communities.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): © Fábio Maffei,  © Margaret Francis/TNC.