Amazonians join the digital jungle

The advent of the internet is transforming the lives of remote indigenous communities in Brazil's hinterlands. Whether these transformations will usher in favourable outcomes or lead to the disintegration of the communities, remains a looming question.

The Matsés stands as a nomadic tribe that initially engaged with the contemporary world during the 1970s. Upholding their ancestral customs of hunting, fishing and adorning themselves with facial ornaments and traditional tattoos, they reside in the secluded village of Nova Esperança, nestled 500 kilometres distant from the nearest urban centre. However, the introduction of a solar powered antenna connected to Elon Musk's Starlink Satellite Internet constellation, has granted them instant access to the wider world.

Indigenous Municipal Councillor Cesar Mayuruna envisions this access as a potent catalyst for education.

Cesar Mayuruna: "We have a dream for the future with this, to be trained as an engineer, civil engineer, geologist, architect. You can be a lawyer. You can be a nurse, work in administration and several areas, chemical engineering, forestry engineering, it will be easier. This is our future dream."

Once reliant on an erratic two way radio or gruelling canoe expeditions to get between villages, communication options have undergone a paradigm shift. Municipally funded, the network's establishment is set to broaden its operations.

Nevertheless, apprehensions linger concerning the potential cultural ramifications for the Matsés community. Prudent decisions by tribal elders dictate that night internet access be limited to educators, healthcare providers and village elders and be cut off to the wider community.

Bene Mayuruna presides as the head of the General Organization of the Mayuruna people.

Bene Mayuruna: "The internet helps a lot to communicate. But on the other hand, the internet encourages young people not to do traditional activities, not to help their mother. When the mother does activities, like gardening, she calls and they don't go because of the cell phone, because they are watching videos. This is very worrying, isn't it?"

As social media apps coexist with educational platforms, coupled with the advantages of enhanced communication, the enduring influence on the cultural fabric of these indigenous societies remains a question for the future to answer. View Less