AANA
FUNDAÇÃO ALMERINDA MALAQUIAS
In Novo Airão, the Katerre Expedition worked to revitalize the operations of AANA, the Novo Airão Artisans Association (in the urban area of Novo Airão), through a renovation and the reopening of its shop. The association was created to preserve and showcase the beauty of the region’s straw weaving (teçume) from the Upper Rio Negro, especially from the Baré and Dessana peoples. We are also the main supporters and sponsors of AANA’s active projects.
Dona Alberta is an essential name when we speak about craftsmanship and cultural identity in Novo Airão, in the Brazilian Amazon. As President of the Novo Airão Artisans Association, she acts as a guardian of knowledge passed down through generations and kept alive in the daily life of local communities.
A descendant of the Baré people, Dona Alberta transforms vegetal fibers and forest seeds into pieces that carry territory, time, and memory. More than producing, she teaches. With generosity and precision, she shares techniques with young people and with everyone who wishes to learn, strengthening the continuity of Indigenous craftsmanship and local leadership.
Her work is now gaining even greater visibility as she is a nominee for the title of Master Artisan in the production of sustainable craftwork made from vegetal fibers, a recognition that celebrates a practice rooted in respect for the forest, pride in origin, and an authentic expression of the Amazon.
