At the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, AMYK – the Yanomami Women’s Association Kumirayõma – is much more than an acronym: it is the organized voice and the driving force of the Yanomami women of Amazonas. Founded to resist aggressions and ensure cultural continuity, AMYK is living proof that Indigenous governance and female leadership are inseparable from the defense of the forest.
For OGA, AMYK represents the vanguard in the fight for rights, health, and autonomy in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory.
🏹 Institutional: The Heart of Yanomami Resistance
The word “Kumirayõma” means women in Yanomami, and the association’s very name defines its mission: to place women at the center of political and social decision-making processes. AMYK operates in a vital network of communities in the Amazonas region, serving as an essential pillar in the territorial defense structure of one of the planet’s most vulnerable peoples.
The association ensures that the traditional knowledge, needs, and priorities of Yanomami women, who are often made invisible, are articulated with clarity and strength in spheres of power.
- AMYK’s Strategic Fronts:
- Territorial Defense: Active mobilization against illegal mining (garimpo), the main threat that contaminates rivers, destroys the forest, and brings violence and disease.
- Sociocultural Value and Health: Strengthening customs, languages, and culturally appropriate health and nutrition practices.
- Political Autonomy: Training leaders and ensuring female participation at all levels of dialogue.
🗣️ The Leadership that Amplifies the Organization: Carlinha Yanomami
AMYK’s strength is inseparable from the voice of its main leader, president Carlinha Yanomami. Carlinha, a Yanomami teacher with extensive experience in the region, is the institutional representative who translates the association’s demands into urgent appeals for action.
In her work, Carlinha places AMYK on the stage of national and international debate, denouncing gender violence and exploitation. She also highlights the need for the Brazilian Government to adapt assistance policies to the people’s food culture, reinforcing AMYK’s pursuit of autonomy. The leader participated in high-level meetings in Brasília, as reported by the Agência Gov.
📚 AMYK’s Academic and Media Recognition
AMYK’s institutional relevance is such that its formation and impact have become the subject of academic study in Brazil.
A Master’s Thesis in Social Anthropology from the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) was dedicated to studying the entity’s creation process, confirming AMYK’s essential role in expanding women’s participation space. You can access the full dissertation here.
Furthermore, AMYK’s voice has strong resonance in the press:
- Carlinha’s Denunciations on Violence and Mining (Amazônia Real): Read the powerful denunciations by the AMYK leader about the crisis in her territory in this article.
- Dialogue with FUNAI on Food Security: Follow AMYK’s participation in meetings to discuss the food security plan on the Gov.br – FUNAI Portal.
- IV Yanomami and Ye’kwana Leadership Forum: AMYK reinforced its demands at the forum, as reported by the Terras Indígenas portal.
Our Commitment: Strengthening the Network with OGA
OGA recognizes AMYK not only as a strategic partner but as an example of grassroots leadership essential for the future of the Amazon. Our network is committed to amplifying the voice of president Carlinha Yanomami and all Kumirayõma, ensuring their struggles for justice and autonomy reach a global audience of advocates and social investors.
- How OGA Supports: We act in AMYK’s institutional promotion, connecting the organization to sustainable resource sources, training opportunities, and high-impact media outlets, as you are reading now.
- Call to Action: AMYK’s work requires continuous support. We invite other organizations, companies, and OGA partners to join us in this effort, whether through technical partnerships, logistical support, or direct investments that strengthen the Association’s management capacity and self-sufficiency.
