Community Thriving Narratives
Storytelling for Change
At the end of 2024, four Indigenous communities in Panama — Alto Playón, Puerto Lara, Embera Puru and Arimae — came together to share their voices and reclaim their narratives through a powerful process of collective storytelling.
More than 40 participants took part in locally held, three-day workshops, over a period of six-months, that centered their leadership, perspectives, and creative expression.
This marked the launch of the Community Thriving Narratives (CTN) approach, whereby community members lead the creation of stories rooted in their lived experiences, cultural knowledge, and visions for the future of their forest and territory.
CTN continued with communities in Panama throughout 2026, as well as with communities in the Apyterewa Indigenous Territory in the Brazilian Amazon.
This initiative, supported by If Not Us Then Who (INUTW), FSC Indigenous Foundation, and Health In Harmony, aims not to impose narratives but to resource communities in telling their own stories on their own terms — through tools, training, and media support.
Indigenous cinema is not just a form of artistic expression, but a powerful voice that amplifies struggles, strengthens identities, and contributes to political and social change.
Rather than extracting stories, this effort amplifies voices grounded in strength and ancestral knowledge — supporting communities to reclaim the power to shape their narratives, assert territorial presence, and strengthen the defense of their forests.
Our Purpose
As an ongoing project, Community Thriving Narratives amplifies the voices of Indigenous communities in Panama and beyond through culturally rooted storytelling that connects environmental protection with community health and sustainable livelihoods.
In alignment with Health In Harmony’s planetary health approach and If Not Us Then Who’s commitment to narrative sovereignty and climate justice, CTN supports locally-led content creation and legal integrity through Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) – connecting storytelling with systems change, community resilience, and climate justice.
Going forward, CTN will facilitate a knowledge transfer of the Indigenous science, cultural, and spiritual practice of living in balance with nature to a global audience. CTN will also form qualitative analysis on rainforest communities’ planetary health work, which – when combined with the quantitative metrics of carbon and biodiversity – can play an important role in global advocacy.
The CTN project has recently expanded to Brazil working alongside Indigenous communities in the Apyterewa Indigenous Territory in the state of Pará, and trainer/mentor Renan Khisetje. More to share on that soon.
Workshops
Community Thriving Narratives workshops introduce participants to the foundational principles of community cinema and its relevance in preserving and sharing local stories. Hands-on training covers the use of mobile phones and cameras, along with essential techniques in framing, lighting, and sound.
Participants also work on developing ideas, writing scripts, and planning production workflows. Lastly, workshops offer an overview of shooting and editing processes, providing participants with a comprehensive introduction to community-based audiovisual storytelling.
Dedicated messaging groups are created to foster creative collaboration, serving as platforms for continued communication, idea exchange, and peer support in content creation. The workshop also plays a key role in strengthening relationships between rainforest communities, promoting dialogue, shared learning, and social cohesion.
In Panama, these workshops were part of the project “Promoting Indigenous Nature-Based Business Models,” aimed at strengthening narrative sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and sustainable economic development within Indigenous communities.
Watch All Stories
Consequences of Migration
The outbreaks in Alto Playón are attributed to water contamination, largely due to the high number of migrants passing through the area. Despite repeated commitments and promises of assistance from the Panamanian government, no tangible projects or aid have materialized to date.
Production Team: Franklin Fogona, Raúl Cabrera, Melecio Mecha, Dionale Fogona, Javier Guainora, Liseth Peña, Yesmeida Guainora, Yaritzel Isarama, José Luis Guatico
The Fight Is Our Resistance
On May 31, the Emberá community of Arimae in Darién marched peacefully against Law 462, which reforms Panama’s social security system. The Emberá-Wounaan describe the law as unjust and discriminatory. State repression put children, women, and elders at serious risk.
Production Team - Emberá Púru - Arimae: Yasmina Córdoba, Solvio Córdoba, Alfonso Bailarín, Belia Opúa Dogiramá, Yamidelis Berrugate, Elivardo Membacho
Water Is Life
The community of Puerto Lara is facing a water crisis due to persistent failures in its water supply system. Despite repeated promises from the authorities, the situation remains unresolved.
Production Team: Ruth Membora, Benelio Pisario, Eduard Chamapuru, Baltazar Osorio, Rolando Cheucarama, Lincer Chichiliono, Jose Denil Opua, Naen Cabezon, Muriche Cheucarama, Diana Cabezon
Meet the Mentors
Alcibiades Rodriguez
