Priscila Tapajowara
Filmmaker & Photographer
empowering indigenous voices
Priscila Tapajowara is an indigenous woman from the Amazon biome, born in the ancestral territory of the Tapajó people, Santarém, Pará. She is a filmmaker, and photographer and she was chosen by EFE and Sanchamama as one of the 100 Latinos most committed to climate action in 2023 and 2024. Since 2013, she has been showing the struggle and culture of indigenous peoples through photography and in 2018 she graduated in Audiovisual Production from FAPCOM College, becoming the first indigenous woman to graduate from the institution. In the indigenous communication organisation Mídia Indígena she serves as president and vice-president of the Território da Artes Institute.
My work as an indigenous photographer, filmmaker and communicator has had a significant impact, both in the territories I represent and beyond. Over almost 12 years of work and activism, I have used art and communication as tools to echo the voices of the peoples of the forest, occupying different spaces and promoting a narrative constructed by us indigenous people about our own histories, resistance and cultural riches.
This impact manifests itself in several dimensions. Through my personal work, through Mídia Indígena, the organization of which I am president, and through the Instituto Territórios das Artes, where I am vice-president, I have shown the world the strength and diversity of our peoples. As well as sharing our stories with global audiences, I also take the knowledge I have acquired back to the communities, promoting training that empowers young people and strengthens our role in the defense of the forest and territories.
“As my grandmother always says, I am an instrument for sharing our struggle and riches.“
In recent years, we have witnessed a significant transformation: the indigenous voice in communication has gained strength and reached national and international proportions. Through social networks, photography, cinema and, above all, the training courses I promote, I have helped to broaden these narratives, which are now told by us ourselves.
One of the biggest impacts of my work has been the training of young indigenous communicators. These training processes not only empower our youth in local territories, but also strengthen our work at national level. By sharing techniques, knowledge and experiences, I help to ensure that more young people occupy protagonist spaces, express themselves through art and communication and strengthen the collective struggle of indigenous peoples.
In addition, my work has been a powerful tool for denouncing violations of rights and violence faced by indigenous peoples. My photographs, videos and speeches document and expose these realities to the world, mobilizing support and raising awareness about the urgency of protecting our territories and rights. As my grandmother always says, I am an instrument for sharing our struggle and riches. This vision motivates me to continue, knowing that what I do goes beyond visibility: it inspires young people to see themselves in me and follow the same path.
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