Indigenous Women’s Movement of the Xingu Indigenous Reservation Association

Jul 10, 2023Biodiversity, Brazil, Farm to Fork, Food Security, Inspiring initiative

Photo of ALAN DE LA CRUZ from Unsplash

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected by Claudia Fabó Cartas within ACCTING’s mapping of inspiring practice cases, within the local knowledge and disaster management research line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

 

ATIX Mulher, Brazil

 

 

ATIX Mulher (Brazil) is the female branch of the Indigenous Women’s Movement of the Xingu Indigenous Reservation Association. During the pandemic in 2020, the inhabitants of the Xingu Indigenous Reservation faced significant challenges in terms of food security. ATIX Mulher launched campaigns to secure food, hygiene products, and agricultural tools for the 16 ethnic groups residing in the reservation. They facilitated food donations and initiated a collective crowdfunding effort that benefited 130 villages. Presently, the sale of items such as crafts and honey, produced by the villagers, helps generate income to sustain small agriculture-based businesses.

Empowering indigenous women

Watatakalu Yawalapiti, an artist, activist, and entrepreneur from the Yawalapiti ethnicity, is the founder of ATIX Mulher. Traditional indigenous communities in the Xingu Area often prioritize male perspectives, which has made the leadership role of Watatakalu and the actions of ATIX Mulher controversial among some men, including local leaders. However, Watatakalu’s multilingual abilities and her ability to communicate effectively with women from different ethnicities have enabled her to establish a network of like-minded women who share a desire to overcome sexist barriers from an indigenous perspective.

Breaking barriers

ATIX Mulher stands out by promoting the empowerment of indigenous women through their own perspectives, without automatically importing concepts that are foreign to their worldview or customs. This approach fosters greater acceptance within the communities and facilitates genuine progress in female emancipation.

 

Find out more about the initiative 

More inspiring initiatives

ACCTING Case Study: A Model for Energy Renovations

ACCTING Case Study: A Model for Energy Renovations

Sofienberggata 7, located in the heart of Oslo’s Grünerløkka district, Read More

ACCTING Case Study: Denmark’s First Citizen-Led Energy Community

ACCTING Case Study: Denmark’s First Citizen-Led Energy Community

Solhuset, located in Avedøre near Copenhagen, Denmark, serves as an ... Read More

ACCTING Case Study: Empowering Students in the Energy Transition

ACCTING Case Study: Empowering Students in the Energy Transition

The initiative started from the EU project AURORA, endeavouring to ... Read More

ACCTING Narrative: Economic struggles and access to sustainable food

ACCTING Narrative: Economic struggles and access to sustainable food

The impact of climate change and the capacity to mitigate its negative Read More

ACCTING Narrative: A new kind of mobility in Portugal

ACCTING Narrative: A new kind of mobility in Portugal

Daily bike trains to school were the triggering event to develop a new Read More

ACCTING Narrative: An educator with two children fights for a change of values

ACCTING Narrative: An educator with two children fights for a change of values

The impact of climate change and the capacity to mitigate its negative Read More

ACCTING Narrative: Challenges linked to mobility for a single mother of three

ACCTING Narrative: Challenges linked to mobility for a single mother of three

Mobility options for a single mother with three children. Read More

ACCTING Narrative: Considerations on eating patterns and sustainability

ACCTING Narrative: Considerations on eating patterns and sustainability

The impact of climate change and the capacity to mitigate its negative Read More

ACCTING Narrative: When the energy crisis leads to a change of business model

ACCTING Narrative: When the energy crisis leads to a change of business model

In Belgium, the energy crisis leads to a change of business model. Read More

ACCTING Narrative: A micro-enterprise pursuing energy saving and recycling

ACCTING Narrative: A micro-enterprise pursuing energy saving and recycling

The impact of climate change and the capacity to mitigate its negative Read More

Latest blog posts

Newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest project news, developments, and results.