Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TTTRAD (Trade, Trauma and Tradition: Extractive industries, cultural genocide and Indigenous resistence in the 1900s and today)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-05-01 do 2024-04-30
The Trade Trauma and Tradition (TTTRAD) project examined the historical and ongoing impact of extractive industries on Amazonian Indigenous peoples, during the rubber boom of the early 20th century and today. A century on for the rubber era Indigenous frontline defenders are still being killed with impunity where their efforts conflict with corporate and mafia interests. This project worked to empower indigenous peoples to document and share their stories and provide analysis of the effectiveness of international laws to prevent cultural genocide today.
Objectives of the Project:
The core objectives of the TTTRAD project included:
1. Documenting the historical and modern impact of extractive industries on the Indigenous peoples of the Predio Putumayo, Colombia
2. Training Indigenous communities in the use of digital media to create participatory documentaries and digital storytelling productions
3. Conducting legal research on the effectiveness of European and international laws in preventing business-related genocide today.
4. Promoting reconciliation with the past by amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples affected by past atrocities, including those perpetrated by the Peruvian Amazon Company
The project was designed and implemented in collaboration with the Bora, Muinane, Okaina, and Uitoto peoples of the Predio Putumayo in Colombia. Communities had a central role in project design and implementation throughout the project, with a focus on allowing them to tell their own stories in their own words.
Objectives of the Project:
The core objectives of the TTTRAD project included:
1. Documenting the historical and modern impact of extractive industries on the Indigenous peoples of the Predio Putumayo, Colombia
2. Training Indigenous communities in the use of digital media to create participatory documentaries and digital storytelling productions
3. Conducting legal research on the effectiveness of European and international laws in preventing business-related genocide today.
4. Promoting reconciliation with the past by amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples affected by past atrocities, including those perpetrated by the Peruvian Amazon Company
The project was designed and implemented in collaboration with the Bora, Muinane, Okaina, and Uitoto peoples of the Predio Putumayo in Colombia. Communities had a central role in project design and implementation throughout the project, with a focus on allowing them to tell their own stories in their own words.
main activities:
• The project began part-time in May 2021 at the University of Galway’s Huston School of Film and Digital Media, where the Principal Investigator (PI) undertook training in participatory documentary and digital storytelling.
• July-August 2022, the PI spent two months on secondment with the Forest Peoples Program (FPP) in the UK investigating voluntary carbon credit markets, with a focus on the Predio Putumayo region.
• In October 2022, the PI travelled to La Chorrera and agreed to help the peoples of the region establish their own Film Collective as the best platform to coordinate the development of participatory films.
• In December 2022, the PI facilitated a workshop with over 30 participants of the four peoples where they formalised the creation of The Colectivo de Cine Indígena de La Chorrera (Colectivo) and develop a storyline for a documentary:
1. Order – before the rubber era
2. Disorder – rubber era, the white man, and genocide
3. Reorganization – post-rubber era, traditional ways, AZICATCH formation
4. Future Actions – territorial rights, self-determination, environment
• In June 2023, a donation of four HD cameras from the Huston School of Film along with microphones, SSD cards, and external hard drives using were delivered to the Colectivo by the PI with the assistance of the Irish Embassy.
• In July 2023 the Colectivo was provided offices by the Indigenous run secondary school to further their film-making efforts. These were refurbished by the members of the Colectivo with support from the PI and University of Galway.
• Training workshops were held in July 2023 for young first-time filmmakers chosen by the four peoples on digital storytelling, filming, editing and post-production,
• On the 3rd of August 2023 a commemorative event was held for Roger Casement on the anniversary of his death. The guest of honour was the Irish ambassador Fiona Nic Dhonnacha, who met with delegations of all four peoples, AZICATCH, and the women’s group. During her two day 4 short films were made by teams of each of the four peoples were shown.
• Organization of a First Indigenous Film Festival by the Colectivo in collaboration with the TTTRAD project in April 2024, included short films made by members of the Colectivo as well as films from Peruvian and local filmmakers.
• Professional filming of a documentary commenced in August 2023 and will subject to funding continue until November 2025.
• A pilot has been prepared, and efforts are ongoing to secure funding for this and future film projects
• The project began part-time in May 2021 at the University of Galway’s Huston School of Film and Digital Media, where the Principal Investigator (PI) undertook training in participatory documentary and digital storytelling.
• July-August 2022, the PI spent two months on secondment with the Forest Peoples Program (FPP) in the UK investigating voluntary carbon credit markets, with a focus on the Predio Putumayo region.
• In October 2022, the PI travelled to La Chorrera and agreed to help the peoples of the region establish their own Film Collective as the best platform to coordinate the development of participatory films.
• In December 2022, the PI facilitated a workshop with over 30 participants of the four peoples where they formalised the creation of The Colectivo de Cine Indígena de La Chorrera (Colectivo) and develop a storyline for a documentary:
1. Order – before the rubber era
2. Disorder – rubber era, the white man, and genocide
3. Reorganization – post-rubber era, traditional ways, AZICATCH formation
4. Future Actions – territorial rights, self-determination, environment
• In June 2023, a donation of four HD cameras from the Huston School of Film along with microphones, SSD cards, and external hard drives using were delivered to the Colectivo by the PI with the assistance of the Irish Embassy.
• In July 2023 the Colectivo was provided offices by the Indigenous run secondary school to further their film-making efforts. These were refurbished by the members of the Colectivo with support from the PI and University of Galway.
• Training workshops were held in July 2023 for young first-time filmmakers chosen by the four peoples on digital storytelling, filming, editing and post-production,
• On the 3rd of August 2023 a commemorative event was held for Roger Casement on the anniversary of his death. The guest of honour was the Irish ambassador Fiona Nic Dhonnacha, who met with delegations of all four peoples, AZICATCH, and the women’s group. During her two day 4 short films were made by teams of each of the four peoples were shown.
• Organization of a First Indigenous Film Festival by the Colectivo in collaboration with the TTTRAD project in April 2024, included short films made by members of the Colectivo as well as films from Peruvian and local filmmakers.
• Professional filming of a documentary commenced in August 2023 and will subject to funding continue until November 2025.
• A pilot has been prepared, and efforts are ongoing to secure funding for this and future film projects
Press and Media Coverage
The TTTRAD project garnered significant media attention in articles, press releases, and media appearances that highlighted the project’s achievements and the struggles of the peoples of Predio Putumayo. I a press release citing thew support of the Irish Taoiseach for the work being carried out in support of the peoples of the Predio; Coverage in Ireland and Colombia of Commemorative Events in La Chorrera organised with the support of the TTRAD project; and, screenings of Digital Storytelling videos and A pilot for the PI led participatory documentary was showcased at several national and international forums, including COP 16 in Cali.
The project’s interdisciplinary approach included law, anthropology, digital storytelling, and human rights, combining participatory documentary-making and legal research to explore the themes of resilience, justice, and cultural survival moves beyond the state of the art enabling indigenous peoples to play an active and decisive role in the recording and dissemination of their story, world view and message to the word in their own pictures and words.
A highly important aspect of research has been the identification of significant social impacts arising from the promotion of carbon credit markets among the indigenous peoples of the region. This is a highly sensitive issue and as it runs through all aspects of the project work the PI has undertaken to refrain from publications until all film work is completed and approved by the indigenous peoples.
One of the most significant outcomes of the TTTRAD project has been the development of close working ties between the peoples of the Predio Putumayo in Colombia and the Irish Government and the University of Galway. Ongoing collaboration includes future projects focusing on mapping Indigenous territories, supporting self-determination, and advocating for stronger international legal protections against corporate human rights abuses. All of which are of great local and international significance, as the peoples of the Predio struggle to protect their, for now, pristine rainforest which stretches over a territory three quarters the size of Ireland .
A key achievement of the project has been the consolidation of an active Colectivo de Cine Indígena serving as a base for local Indigenous filmmakers. nnual production of short films by each of the four peoples has covered a wide range of topics. Including historical and current stories, environmental issues, cultural resilience, traditional ceremonies, languages, and practices.
Continuing participatory work on a participatory documentary between a film crew from Ireland and filmmakers from the Colectivo will bring their story and the results of this project to global attention in the coming years
The TTTRAD project participatory approach, serves as a model for future projects that aim to elevate Indigenous voices and protect their rights in the face of global challenges such as climate change and corporate exploitation.
The project and its long-term impacts serve to continue Casement's work, in the struggle for Indigenous rights at the national and international level today.
The TTTRAD project garnered significant media attention in articles, press releases, and media appearances that highlighted the project’s achievements and the struggles of the peoples of Predio Putumayo. I a press release citing thew support of the Irish Taoiseach for the work being carried out in support of the peoples of the Predio; Coverage in Ireland and Colombia of Commemorative Events in La Chorrera organised with the support of the TTRAD project; and, screenings of Digital Storytelling videos and A pilot for the PI led participatory documentary was showcased at several national and international forums, including COP 16 in Cali.
The project’s interdisciplinary approach included law, anthropology, digital storytelling, and human rights, combining participatory documentary-making and legal research to explore the themes of resilience, justice, and cultural survival moves beyond the state of the art enabling indigenous peoples to play an active and decisive role in the recording and dissemination of their story, world view and message to the word in their own pictures and words.
A highly important aspect of research has been the identification of significant social impacts arising from the promotion of carbon credit markets among the indigenous peoples of the region. This is a highly sensitive issue and as it runs through all aspects of the project work the PI has undertaken to refrain from publications until all film work is completed and approved by the indigenous peoples.
One of the most significant outcomes of the TTTRAD project has been the development of close working ties between the peoples of the Predio Putumayo in Colombia and the Irish Government and the University of Galway. Ongoing collaboration includes future projects focusing on mapping Indigenous territories, supporting self-determination, and advocating for stronger international legal protections against corporate human rights abuses. All of which are of great local and international significance, as the peoples of the Predio struggle to protect their, for now, pristine rainforest which stretches over a territory three quarters the size of Ireland .
A key achievement of the project has been the consolidation of an active Colectivo de Cine Indígena serving as a base for local Indigenous filmmakers. nnual production of short films by each of the four peoples has covered a wide range of topics. Including historical and current stories, environmental issues, cultural resilience, traditional ceremonies, languages, and practices.
Continuing participatory work on a participatory documentary between a film crew from Ireland and filmmakers from the Colectivo will bring their story and the results of this project to global attention in the coming years
The TTTRAD project participatory approach, serves as a model for future projects that aim to elevate Indigenous voices and protect their rights in the face of global challenges such as climate change and corporate exploitation.
The project and its long-term impacts serve to continue Casement's work, in the struggle for Indigenous rights at the national and international level today.