Indigenous Voices in the Knowledge Production

In Brazil, in recent years, we have observed an increase in the access of indigenous people in Higher Education and Postgraduate Studies. They demand recognition as producers of scientific knowledge, overcoming the colonial paradigms that objectify them in the production of knowledge. However, in the case of Public Health, persists a very low visibility of indigenous participation in academia. This experience report presents the project “Indigenous Voices in the Production of Knowledge”, carried out through a partnership between a collective of indigenous researchers from different regions of the country and researchers from “Academic Institution”. A network of 20 indigenous researchers was organized, who met in 2019 and highlighted the need to “give recognition to indigenous knowledge” as a scientific expression; the difficulties of mastering the Portuguese language; the collective character of indigenous authorship and the need to make indigenous identities visible in authorship in scientific productions. An Indigenous Editorial Board was formed and prepared a public call for indigenous authors, which resulted in an open access publication with 21 texts. The editorial process sought to qualify the editorial board in the editorial production process; indigenous researchers carried out the peer review of the submitted texts; and virtual meetings were held with the authors to discuss the opinions. In addition to a quality academic production by indigenous authors, the project strengthened the network of indigenous researchers in collective health area, involving them in other events and initiatives, and triggered institutional changes at “Academic Institution”.