Davi Kopenawa Yanomani Interview with Janet Chernela and Address to the American Anthropological Association, Demini Village, Brazil

Abstract

This interview was conducted June 7, 2001, in the Yanomami village of Demini, Parima Highlands, Brazil. I invited Davi to participate in what I call "reciprocal interviewing" -- that is, he could interview me as I could interview him. Davi exercises his privilege toward the end of the interview. He understood that he was invited to speak to the American Anthropological Assocation in this interview, and refers to the Association in the course of his talk.

Davi and I spoke in Portuguese. The interview was recorded on audio and video-tape, and later translated from tapes into English. Paragraphs, titles, and bracketed comments were added. Since Portuguese is not first language to either of us, it is not clear that the word choices were ideal. In some cases I included Davi's choice of Portuguese term. The words of Davi continue to have resonance beyond the past to include the enterprise of anthropological research, in general. The implications for globalization, cultural rights, and morality, are far-reaching.