Indigenous Media Presence

The report examines the systemic biases, colonial legacies, and representational risks associated with depicting Indigenous peoples and forests in the context of climate change. It proposes a shift toward 'Indigenous Media Presence,' characterised by self-presentation, 'deep ethics' rooted in territory, and the recognition of Indigenous science and spirituality. The document highlights the risks of 'scenification,' 'audio-visual extractivism,' and the invisibility of Afro-descendant forest communities, while showcasing the work of Indigenous photographers and independent media as tools for resistance and planetary healing.

• The report identifies six primary risks in climate imagery: the perpetuation of colonial attitudes through denigration and invisibility; the simplification or sensationalisation of complex narratives; depicting communities as 'lone rangers' solely responsible for forest defense; a fixation on iconic lands like the Amazon that renders other biomes invisible; media bias through romanticism and 'othering'; and a nominal diversity agenda that fails to engage with human and environmental justice.
• The document argues that the 'colonial gaze' is an internalised mechanism that skews the representation of both people and land, often treating forests as 'imaginative geographies' for remote audiences rather than real places with specific histories and inhabitants.
• The report introduces 'audio-visual extractivism,' where non-Indigenous media professionals capture images of forest peoples and territories without returning the content, rights, or fair remuneration to the communities, effectively treating images as raw materials for profit.
• The authors propose 'deep ethics' as an alternative to institutional ethics, arguing that ethical media practice must be rooted in the community and territory rather than abstract corporate frameworks.
• The report highlights the 'scenification' of forests, where land is depicted as a scenic backdrop for tourism or conservation fantasies, which strips the land of its status as a living subject and ignores the social injustices affecting its inhabitants.
• There is a significant lack of representation for Afro-descendant and Black communities in environmental media, often due to a stereotype that only Indigenous peoples are forest protectors, despite the historical and current role of Quilombo communities in Brazil and other Afro-descendant groups in forest governance.
• The document advocates for 'Indigenous ethnophotography' and self-presentation, where Indigenous image-makers use the camera as a tool for political struggle, cultural preservation, and the communication of 'ancestral futures.'
• The report argues that climate change is often framed through a linear, Western scientific lens, whereas Indigenous perspectives view it as a 'civilisational crisis' or 'planetary disease' requiring spiritual and cultural healing.
• The authors critique 'White saviourism' in climate and humanitarian media, where the focus is on the emotional experience of the donor or the 'heroism' of the outsider rather than the agency and leadership of Indigenous peoples.
• The report notes a 'visual divide' in Latin America, where the concentration of media ownership among economic elites leads to the systemic omission or misrepresentation of Indigenous and environmental struggles.

APA

Sutil, N. S. (2021). Indigenous Media Presence. Climate Outreach. https://climateoutreach.org/content/uploads/2021/09/Indigenous-Media-Presence-1.pdf#page=115

Chicago

Sutil, Nicolas Salazar. Indigenous Media Presence. Climate Outreach, 2021. https://climateoutreach.org/content/uploads/2021/09/Indigenous-Media-Presence-1.pdf#page=115.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sutil |first1=Nicolas Salazar |title=Indigenous Media Presence |publisher=Climate Outreach |date=September 2021 |url=https://climateoutreach.org/content/uploads/2021/09/Indigenous-Media-Presence-1.pdf#page=115 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sutil2021indigenous, author = {Sutil, Nicolas Salazar}, title = {{Indigenous Media Presence}}, institution = {Climate Outreach}, year = {2021}, month = sep, url = {https://climateoutreach.org/content/uploads/2021/09/Indigenous-Media-Presence-1.pdf#page=115}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }