The Shanenawá, known as the "People of the Blue Bird," are a resilient indigenous tribe living along the banks of the Envira River in Feijó, Acre, Brazil. The tribe has grown to over 1,500 members spread across 11 villages. Known for their deep knowledge of medicinal herbs, the Shanenawá are often called the "Doctors of the Forest," celebrated among other indigenous groups for their expertise in natural healing and forest medicine.

At the heart of their community is Chief and Shaman Maná Shanenawá, leader of the Kene Merá village. Together with his wife Janaina, they are dedicated to preserving and passing down the tribe's rich heritage, language, and cultural identity. By reintroducing their native language and traditions to younger generations, they aim to counter the growing lure of urban life and keep the community's roots deeply embedded in their ancestral lands. In recent years, the tribe has nearly doubled in size, facing new challenges as they grow and adapt.

The Shanenawá way of life is intricately linked to the natural environment, and they are highly skilled in both hunting and agriculture. Their diet is based on hunting wild pigs, birds, and monkeys, as well as cultivating staple crops like maize, bananas, and beans. However, natural disasters such as flooding threaten their freshwater wells, and deforestation and forest fires have begun to deplete their food resources. To compound these challenges, pollution and industrial waste from upstream have contaminated the Envira River, rendering local fish scarce and unsafe to eat.

Preserving their cultural identity and land rights has been an ongoing effort, with many tribal elders advocating within Brazilian political spheres to secure these rights and protect their way of life. Despite facing environmental and political obstacles, the Shanenawá remain committed to maintaining their traditions and self-sufficiency.