Rafael Arbeláez, a reporter, broadcaster, and radio producer from the Cubeo people in the Colombian department of Vaupés, on the border with Brazil, emphasized the importance of focusing all reports on Amazonian indigenous peoples. In his conversations with national entities, they seek to analyze how each issue affects these communities.
The station where Arbeláez works coordinates links between the six Colombian departments in the Amazon and governmental entities, aiming to disseminate the scope of the National Development Plan in relation to these communities. Arbeláez highlighted that thanks to indigenous knowledge, the Amazon survives, not only because of the jungle but also due to the presence of indigenous peoples.
The station's programming is broadcast through Facebook to reach a wider audience. Although Spanish and technology are used to communicate with the outside world, more than 51 original languages belonging to 13 linguistic families are spoken in the region. Arbeláez mentioned that one of the main objectives is to raise awareness among the inhabitants about social issues that were previously overlooked due to a lack of communication.
The station, Ondas Opiac, established strategic points in the region to disseminate its content in areas with no internet connection. At the headquarters of the National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon, in Bogotá, Ondas Opiac started as a digital medium in 2022 to strengthen the culture and economy of the Amazonian region, with more than 30 reporters from the communities.
The reporters, trained by communication professionals, maintain their authentic way of narrating the reality of their territories. The station broadcasts daily news and programs about ancestral knowledge, culture, and health in the Amazonian territories. All with the purpose of amplifying the voice and expanding indigenous wisdom to the rest of the world.
