Page 14 - GYCP Projects Booklet

Global Youth Climate Pact

Puyanawa: Traditional Knowledges

and the Challenges Changes

Authors: Jósimo Constant;

Introduction/Problem Methodology

Our people Puyanawa (people of the frog) we are The methodology used is translated into the

an indigenous ethnic group that we are located in indigenous experience itself, but the memory of the

the State of Acre, north of Brazil, before the arrival elders will be taken into account. In addition, the

of the rubber explorers, we inhabited the banks of ethnographic method will be used, which I propose

the Juruá River. According to the elders, we derive through this method to carry out a dense description

from the junction of the frog and the leaf. of indigenous traditional knowledge together with the

This work aims to identify a series of problems that other members of the community and the effective

we are facing because of climatic factors. It will be participation of students from the Itxuwãy Rabuy

taken in relevance the memory of the oldest, the Puyanawa school, indigenous medical practices and

oral transmission of the traditional stories of the impacts environmental and their consequences in our

own people. indigenous territory.

Justification Results

Despite all the mishaps that we have experienced The remarkable project is being the gateway to many

over time in the hands of the settlers, we are other things, especially in opening the minds of the

working hard so that our traditional customs are younger ones, so that they become more interested in

preserved. The relationship with nature to us traditional knowledge. Lately our community has been

indigenous peoples is something symmetrical and working to rescue the traditional language and culture,

relevant, we Puyanawa, we still master many but we still need a deeper, dense and long-term work

practices, tactics and techniques of our ancestors. as deforestation, fishing and predatory hunting have

It is these knowledge of the ancients that made us increased. In this way, sustainable management and

go through many difficulties, continue to seek in traditional knowledges have been important for the

nature all the elements necessary for maintaining preservation of our land.

the group and preserving the environment.

Considerations

Colonization was the main negative factor to break

with our customs, cultural and environmental ties.

But we are working hard for what remains of our

customs are maintained, especially our mother

tongue which is seriously threatened by the reduced

number of speakers. We are monitoring, raising

awareness to promote the sustainable management References

of each resource extracted from our environment.

We are seriously concerned about the terrible and

sad environmental catastrophes that are destroying CONSTANT, Jósimo. History, memory, traditional

the world. knowledge and challenging climate change under the

Puyanawa indigenous perspective.

Contact: josimo.constant@gmail.com