Edson Krenak
University of Vienna / Cultural Survival
Member-at-large of the SALSA Board 2024 – 2027
Edson Dorneles de Andrade, known primarily as “Edson Krenak,” is an Indigenous activist, scholar, and writer. He is currently a doctoral candidate, completing his degree in legal anthropology, at the University of Vienna, Austria. Edson also holds a degree in Linguistics and Literary Theory from Brazil’s Federal University of São Carlos. Since 2013, Edson has been affiliated with the Brazilian Uk’a Arts and Culture Institute where he contributes his experience as a speaker and coach. In 2019, Edson Krenak assumed the position of Human Rights Advocacy Coordinator at the U.S.-based Indigenous rights non-profit, Cultural Survival (CS). He recently took on the pivotal role of coordinating CS’s programs in Brazil; these include advocacy, capacity building, and the Keepers of the Earth Fund. In 2016 Edson became the 10th recipient of Brazil’s prestigious National Tamoios Award for Indigenous Writers for his book, The Borum’s Dream. His short story, “Kren and Pockrane: Why the Krenak People Lack Twins,” was featured in the 2018 UNICEF-recommended anthology, “Nos: Anthology of Indigenous Stories.” Edson is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, and is progressing towards an intermediate proficiency in German. Edson looks forward to bringing his unique perspectives and experience to the SALSA board and participating in discussions about diversifying and decolonizing SALSA.