Indigenous Voices Use Digital Media to Shape Climate Policy

In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Indigenous communicators like sound designer Eric Terena are using digital tools to amplify their voices and document the region’s alarming environmental transformations. Terena, co-founder of Mídia Indígena, a Brazilian media network dedicated to preserving Indigenous cultures, has observed a shift from the natural symphony of biodiversity to the invasive sounds of industrial projects. “What the environment once spoke, what biodiversity once sang, has shifted to sounds from industrial projects that have arrived in our territories,” he said, highlighting the encroachment of machines on ancestral lands.

Research conducted with Indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon reveals how media technologies, including smartphones and social platforms, are empowering these groups to document environmental degradation, defend land rights, and shape global climate debates. Through “educommunication”—a blend of media education and community participation—Indigenous youth are gaining the skills to share their stories with audiences ranging from local villages to international forums. As the United Nations climate summit, COP30, approaches in Belém, Brazil, this November, these digital tools are enabling Indigenous voices to influence global understanding of the climate crisis.

The movement began with initiatives like Mídia Indígena, founded in 2017 at the Free Land Camp in Brasília by Terena and young Guajajara leaders from Maranhão. Training 128 Indigenous youth in reporting and storytelling, the platform now garners over 10 million annual video views, embodying the principle of “Nothing about us, without us.” Its impact was evident during the 2023 Yanomami humanitarian crisis, where Indigenous reporters were the first to expose malnutrition, child deaths, and mercury poisoning caused by illegal gold mining, linking these issues to broader environmental destruction.

Also Read: ASCI: Media Firms Have to Label Paid Social Media Posts Immediately

Other collectives, such as Xingu+ and the Ija Mytyli Manoki and Myki Cinema Collective, are also making waves. Xingu+’s video Fire is Burning the Eyes of Xingu drew attention from the US Agency for International Development and the EU, while Manoki and Myki films highlight traditional knowledge, gaining recognition in Europe. Mídia Guarani challenges stereotypes, showcasing Indigenous communities’ deep connection to both nature and technology. These efforts, described by filmmaker Renan Kisedje as the work of “digital warriors,” use cameras and smartphones to fight for land, rights, and justice.

This digital resistance also confronts threats like Brazil’s “devastation bill,” which could weaken environmental protections and exacerbate land grabs. By exposing such dangers, Indigenous communicators generate public pressure and demand accountability from governments and corporations. Their work aligns with global climate finance efforts, such as the UK’s £11.6 billion commitment from 2021 to 2026, though concerns remain about the effectiveness of fund allocation to Indigenous-led initiatives.

As COP30 nears, Indigenous leaders are preparing to make their voices heard. In August, 100 Indigenous reporters convened in Belém for the 1st National Meeting of Indigenous Communication, under the motto “Indigenous communication is resistance, territory, and future.” This gathering strengthened networks to ensure their perspectives shape international climate policies. With their deep knowledge as the world’s most experienced environmental stewards, Indigenous Amazonians are poised to redefine climate action at COP30, demanding recognition of their territories, rights, and sustainable practices as critical solutions to the global crisis.

Also Read: Climate Change Made Wildfires Deadlier Than Ever!