In the interior of Maranhão, in the municipality of Montes Altos, lies the Krikati Indigenous Territory (TI). Demarcated since 2004, the territory has faced constant threats, including invasions by farmers and loggers, as well as the advance of deforestation—which intensified since 2019.
Implemented in partnership with the Wewetyj Community Association of the Recanto dos Cocais Village and the community's women's collective, the initiative "Women as Environmental Agents in Monitoring the Krikati Indigenous Land," implemented by Sitawi, has been gaining momentum to bring about transformations in this scenario.
Last month, the territory hosted a three-day agroecology workshop, bringing together Krikati and Guajajara Indigenous women. The activity combined theory and practice, valuing traditional knowledge already present in these women's daily lives and expanding their knowledge. Under the guidance of popular educator Vanusa Babaçu, two composting units were built, which will fertilize the village's agroecological backyards.
"We're working with women on agroecology, reinforcing that they've been practicing this for a long time. We want to improve their backyards and flowerbeds and strengthen their recognition of the importance of natural elements—land, water, and plants—for well-being in Indigenous territories," says Vanusa.
The effects of climate change are also a concern for the community. Longer dry periods increase the risk of wildfires and bring uncertainty to the future. Therefore, the project seeks to support Indigenous women in better understanding these impacts and learning ways to mitigate them.
"I can't read or write, but I observe a lot. Things are changing so much. It doesn't rain like it used to, and the rivers are drying up like I've never seen before. We need to listen to our elders," comments village resident Maria Guajajara.
Furthermore, one of the project's main objectives is to strengthen and expand the monitoring, protection, and valorization capabilities of the Krikati Indigenous Territory's important areas from cultural, ecological, and social perspectives. Among the ongoing initiatives are agroecological gardens, which cultivate fruit trees, medicinal herbs, and vegetables. In addition to promoting food security, these gardens directly impact approximately 25 families in the Recanto dos Cocais village and, indirectly, approximately 1,300 people throughout the territory.
Although backyards are already part of the community's routine, there is a desire to expand them and enrich production with native species that have become scarce.
"Many women from other villages came to participate and learn. They always ask for more workshops and courses within the territory. I myself am learning a lot; this is my first time at an agroecology workshop," says Rosângela Krikati, president of the Wewetyj Association.
In addition to agroecology activities, the participants went on a several-day expedition to different villages in the territory, reinforcing the importance of recognizing, conserving, and monitoring the Krikati Indigenous Territory.
"Participating in the expedition was a very rewarding experience. Getting to know and exploring the territory, together with the Krikati Guajajara women's collective and their families, allowed us to understand the importance of community in maintaining traditional knowledge in the Krikati Indigenous Territory. It is in this territorial recognition that the strength to protect it and ensure its continued conservation by the community itself is born," emphasizes Ana Quelly Anacleto, Conservation Finance and Climate Analyst at Sitawi.
With initiatives like this, indigenous women continue to demonstrate leadership in defending their territories and strengthening sustainable practices that combine tradition, ancestral knowledge, and community innovation.
Sitawi participated in an extensive selection process for Floresta+ Amazônia, together with several organizations in Brazil, to work in partnership with community-based organizations in the states of the Legal Amazon. The initiative is carried out by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), with the support of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
