Community-based tourism transforms indigenous lands in Brazil

18-12-24

Community-based tourism is transforming the reality of indigenous lands in the Brazilian Amazon, offering a sustainable alternative that promotes economic development and cultural preservation. In the Shanenawa village, located in the municipality of Feijó, Acre, this form of tourism has enabled the community to share its cultural wealth and ancestral knowledge with visitors from all over the world.

Three years ago, the Shanenawa began to receive tourists interested in immersing themselves in their culture and learning about their harmonious coexistence with the forest. According to chief Tekavainy Shanenawa, the community used to hold cultural festivities for relatives from other regions and ethnic groups, but had no experience with tourism. The arrival of Brazilian and foreign visitors, attracted by forest medicine such as ayahuasca, has strengthened the local culture and provided new economic opportunities.

Prior to tourism, the Shanenawa relied on subsistence agriculture, growing bananas and cassava, as well as hunting, fishing and handicraft production. Trade in these products allowed them to purchase goods in the city. With tourism, they have found a way to add value to their production, strengthen their culture and pass on teachings to new generations. Maya Shanenawa, eldest daughter of the cacique and recognized as vice cacique, emphasizes that each time they share their medicine and culture with visitors, they become more refined.

The Shanenawa social structure assigns leadership to the firstborn, regardless of gender. Maya, 29, assumes the role of vice chief, while her sister Maspã leads the medicine consecration ritual. For them, tourism is an opportunity to showcase their way of life and strengthen the community's cultural identity.

Community-based tourism does not only benefit the Shanenawa. In the Puyanawa Indigenous Land, in the municipality of Mâncio Lima, Acre, the community has developed a structure to receive visitors, including lodging, food and cultural activities. Cacique Joel Puyanawa points out that tourism has made it possible to rescue and strengthen the Puyanawa culture, in addition to generating income for the community.

The implementation of community-based tourism on indigenous lands faces challenges, such as the need for training and adequate infrastructure. However, with the support of governmental and non-governmental organizations, the communities have managed to overcome obstacles and develop successful projects. The recently launched Diagnosis of Ethnotourism in the Legal Amazon highlights the importance of this model for sustainable development in the region.

Community-based tourism on indigenous lands promotes economic development, cultural preservation and environmental conservation. By involving communities in tourism management, it ensures that benefits flow directly to them, strengthening their autonomy and decision-making capacity over their territories. It also offers visitors an authentic and enriching experience, fostering respect and understanding of indigenous cultures.

Community-based tourism is changing the reality of indigenous lands in the Brazilian Amazon, offering a sustainable alternative that benefits both local communities and visitors. Through this model, it promotes economic development, strengthens cultural identity and contributes to environmental conservation, demonstrating that a balance between development and sustainability is possible in the Amazon region.