Edson Krenak Naknanuk (Krenak), Brazil Program Manager, is an Indigenous activist, writer, and scholar from Brazil. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Legal Anthropology at the University of Vienna, Austria. Since 2019, Edson has been supporting Cultural Survival's programming in Brazil as a key strategic region. As an accomplished writer, his work has received significant acclaim. He is the recipient of the 10th Tamoios National Prize for Indigenous Writers for his book "O Sonho de Borum." His tale, "Kren and Pockrane, Why There Are Not Twins among the Krenak People," is featured in the UNICEF-nominated anthology "Nós: Antologia de Contos Indígenas," among other academic publications on Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous perspectives on Just Transition, and climate issues.
His global advocacy is reflected in his leadership roles with several international organizations, including:
- Securing Indigenous Peoples Rights in the Green Economy (SIRGE) Coalition: Executive Committee - Cultural Survival Representative
- Society for the Anthropology of Lowland South America (SALSA): Member at large (2024–2027) co-creating a network of indigenous scholars and academics working with Indigenous communities in South America
- Global Tailings Management Institute (GTMI): Board Member to support Indigenous Peoples and communities impacted by tailings and pos-mining.
Edson is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English, and learning Krenak and German. Contact Edson at edson.krenak@cs.org.
