Suraras do Tapajós

Mulheres Indígenas do Baixo Tapajós: Fazendo Arte e Gerando Renda

Training an indigenous women’s collective to make jewelry and preserve local culture

The indigenous communities located in the Tapajós region of Pará coexist with the lack of public policies, and violations of their culture and way of life. There are more than 500 families mainly consisting of women. And they are the ones who suffer most from the violence and prejudice that comes from inside and outside the villages.

Created in 2016, the Suraras do Tapajós group is a collective of women that provides training for indigenous women to hold leadership positions. The organization promotes lectures on violence and holds activities to promote self-esteem. The project’s proposal is to offer financial autonomy through training in the production of handicrafts and jewelry making, ensuring for these women a source of income that values their culture and history.

With support from BrazilFoundation, Suraras do Tapajós aims to:

• Strengthen indigenous women’s leadership and organizations in the Lower Tapajós region;
• Enable the practice of economic activities that generate financial autonomy for women;
• Encourage the formation of groups of indigenous women involved in income-generating activities.

Impact

90 indigenous women will be trained to produce jewelry
320 family members to benefit from greater household income
Indigenous women’s groups formed and strengthened

“Financial autonomy contributes to the elevation of self-esteem and consequently to breaking the cycle of violence to which many women have submitted.” – Suraras do Tapajós Team