The Sofie Foundation

THE SPIRIT OF TATA FILM DOCUMENTARY - AT 103 YEARS OLD, TATA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFEGUARDING THE YAWANAWA TRIBE'S SPIRITUAL LEGACY THROUGH THE DIFFICULT YEARS OF COLONIZATION AND INTERFERENCE BY THE RUBBER TAPPERS AND MISSIONARIES IN THE AMAZON FOREST IN BRAZIL. REACHING NEAR EXTINCTION IN THE MID-1980S, THE YAWANAWA DECIDED TO EXPEL THE MISSIONS AND IT WAS TATA WHO HELPED LEAD A REVIVAL OF THE CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES. HE TOOK ON APPRENTICES AND STUDENTS TO LEARN THE LEGENDS, CEREMONIES, MUSIC, HEALING WAYS AND SACRED PLANT KNOWLEDGE THAT HAD BEEN KEPT SECRET IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL A SMALL HANDFUL OF SHAMANS AND ELDERS DURING THE MISSION. THE SPIRIT OF TATA FILM DOCUMENTARY OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO TATA'S FINAL DAYS - A HISTORIC AND CHALLENGING MOMENT FOR THE TRIBE, AS THEY FACE LOSING THEIR BELOVED ELDER AND GREATEST LIVING LIBRARY OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND POWER. TODAY THERE ARE OVER 1,200 YAWANAWA WITH NINE VILLAGES ALONG THE GREGORIO RIVER (STATE OF ACRE). THE YAWANAWA AND THEIR ALLIES ARE DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING A MODEL OF SUSTAINABILITY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PROTECT THEIR LANDS AND ENGAGE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD ON THEIR OWN TERMS, WITHOUT COMPROMISING THEIR CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL IDENTITY. THE TRIBE HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO INCREASE TERRITORY REINVIGORATE YAWANAWA CULTURE AND ESTABLISH ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY EMPOWERING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THE SOFIE FOUNDATION IN GENERAL AND THE SPIRIT OF TATA SPECIFICALLY IS INTENDED TO HELP PRESERVE THE WISDOM OF INDIGENOUS CULTURES AND PROTECT THE YAWANAWA GOING FORWARD. THE SPIRIT OF TATA IS CURRENTLY IN THE POST-PRODUCTION/EDITING STAGE.