Developing Education Curriculum Centered on the Stories of the Marubo Tribe and our Interconnectedness

Student Researcher

Tara Vasanth '23, Major: Art History, Major: Environmental Policy. 

Faculty Mentors

Erica Garroutte and Dr. Kathryn Lanouette

Project Description

Radical change begins with understanding our deep connection to the environment and the global community. In her film Tribes on the Edge, Céline Cousteau partners with Beto of the Marúbo tribe to share the stories of the Indigenous communities in the Vale do Javari region of the Brazilian Amazon. These communities are fighting not only for their survival but also for their rights as guardians of vital, globally significant ecosystems. Through storytelling, Céline documents how health crises, human rights violations, and environmental degradation in the Brazilian Amazon threaten both the survival of Indigenous peoples and the protection of irreplaceable ecosystems crucial to our planet’s resilience against climate change.

The Javari Project is bringing together an international team of partners to raise awareness about the vital role Indigenous communities in the Vale do Javari play in protecting global resources. It highlights the profound interconnectedness between people and the environment on both local and global scales.

In collaboration with the Javari Project, Tara Vasanth '23 developed a curriculum for students ages 9-12 that guides them through an exploration of their connection to their communities and the environment. Through the stories of the Marúbo tribe, the curriculum fosters a deeper understanding of our shared responsibility in preserving the planet. This curriculum is now being used by international educators and the Javari Project to engage students in conversations about environmental interconnectedness and the rich cultural heritage of the Marúbo people. In Fall 2024, Tara presented the Javari Education Project Curriculum at the IB Global Conference.

Project ID - Format

21-009-21 - CRP Year

21-009-22 - CRP Semester

21-009-23 - CRP Semester