Guardiãs do Bem Viver
Indigenous women defending territory and life.
Causes
Bem Viver as a path
Guardiãs do Bem Viver is a project of IEMAV (Instituto Etnomulticultural Aldeia Verde) with AMYK, the Kumirayoma Yanomami Women’s Association, in the Yaripo territory, in the Pico da Neblina region of Amazonas, Brazil. It grew out of needs raised by Yanomami women themselves and is guided by Bem Viver (Good Living), an Indigenous philosophy that puts harmony with nature, community well-being and social justice ahead of material gain.
The Guardiãs defend their territory, biodiversity and the rights of future generations, from a worldview rooted in reciprocity and care.
The work belongs to the Guardiãs. OGA walks alongside them.
In Carlinha’s words
Carlinha Lins Santos, president of AMYK, talks about dreams, collective organizing and the autonomy of Yanomami women.
How OGA walks in partnership
Since December 2025, AMYK has formally authorized OGA to support the project. Today, we take care of:
- Communication: the project’s social media pages.
- Translation and interpreting: so the Guardiãs’ voices reach other languages.
- Videos: audiovisual recording and editing.
- Proposals and reports: funding applications and reporting.
On the territory
Milestones
In 2026, with OGA’s support, AMYK was selected for the People Powered Accelerators.
Digital inclusion
Through a bridge built by Thaki and Estante Mágica, Jovens Gênios donated two phones and a laptop to AMYK, a step toward digital inclusion for Yanomami women.
Conversation circle with Indigenous women
In partnership with Instituto Aldeia Verde and Indique, OGA hosted a virtual conversation circle in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Month, with Cleidiane Tremembé, Indigenous educator, Ludmilla Pataxó, fashion designer and artist, A-yá Kukamíria, Amazonian pajé (spiritual healer), and Wamen Negarotê, Indigenous knowledge keeper, coordinated by anthropologist Cláudia Franco.
Next steps
The idea is for the project to expand to more peoples across Pindorama and Abya Yala. Conversations are already underway.
OGA Arts
Art that carries stories. OGA Arts is OGA’s space for grassroots artists and artisans, with a focus on Global Majority women. Black, Indigenous, quilombola and refugee women have been part of it, each with her own work, culture and way of telling the world. We introduce the people who create and bring you closer to their work.
