Raoni Metuktire facts for kids

Raoni Metuktire (born in 1932), also known as Chief Raoni, is an Indigenous Brazilian leader. He is also a well-known environmentalist. He belongs to the Kayapo people, an Indigenous group from Brazil. They live in the plain lands of Mato Grosso and Pará, near the Amazon River and Xingu River. Chief Raoni is famous worldwide. He is a symbol of the fight to protect the Amazon rainforest and indigenous culture.

Early Life and First Encounters

Raoni Metuktire was born in 1932. His birthplace was a village called Krajmopyjakare, deep in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. He was born into the Metuktire family of the Kayapo people. His father was Chief Umoro. The Kayapo tribe moved often, so Raoni's childhood involved a lot of travel. He saw many tribal wars during this time.

When he was 15, in 1947, Raoni chose to wear a special wooden lip plate. His brother Motibau guided him in this tradition. Warriors of his tribe called this plate a botoque.

In 1954, at age 22, Raoni and his tribe met the outside world for the first time. He wore trousers for the first time. He also started learning Portuguese language from Orlando Villas-Bôas. Orlando was a famous expert on Indigenous cultures in Brazil. This helped Raoni prepare for meeting "the others," or "white people," whom the Kayapo called Kuben.

In 1964, Raoni met the former king of Belgium, Leopold III of Belgium. The king was on a trip to Indigenous lands in Mato Grosso.

Becoming a Voice for the Amazon

Concerns about deforestation were growing. A documentary film called Raoni was made about him. It was filmed by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux. The famous actor Marlon Brando appeared in the film's opening. He supported Native American people and worked for free.

Because of the film, Brazilian news became very interested in Raoni. He became a leading voice for protecting the Amazon rainforest. The rainforest was in danger from illegal logging and the growing of soybeans. Large hydroelectric dams were also being built for electricity.

Global Campaign for the Rainforest

Raoni with Sting in 1989 in Paris

Raoni became known worldwide thanks to the musician Sting. Sting met Raoni in the Xingu region in 1987. In 1988, Sting and Raoni held a press conference in São Paulo. This was before Sting's "Human Rights Now!" tour for Amnesty International. After this, Sting, his wife Trudie Styler, and Jean-Pierre Dutilleux started the Rainforest Foundation Fund. Their first goal was to help Raoni protect Kayapo lands from being taken over.

In 1989, Raoni strongly opposed the Belo Monte Dam project. His views were shown on TV during a big meeting of chiefs in Altamira.

Raoni at a conference in Brazil in April 2006

From April to June 1989, Raoni visited 17 countries with Sting. This trip was very successful. It helped people around the world learn about deforestation. Twelve rainforest foundations were created. They raised money to create a huge national park in the Rio Xingu River area. This area is in the Brazilian states of Para and Mato Grosso.

Raoni's dream was to connect five existing Indigenous lands. These were Baú, Kaiapó, Panará, Kapôt Jarina, and Bàdjumkôre. He also wanted to include the Mekragnotire lands, which were not yet protected. With the nearby Xingu National Park, these united lands would cover about 180,000 square kilometers. This is almost one-third the size of France.

In 1993, money raised globally helped make Raoni's dream come true. The Xingu Indigenous lands were joined together. This created one of the world's most important rainforest reserves.

International Ambassador for Indigenous Culture

Raoni and French President Jacques Chirac in May 2000 at The Élysée Palace.

Former French president Jacques Chirac called Raoni a living symbol. He said Raoni represented the fight to protect the environment. Since 1989, the Kayapo leader has traveled to many places. He visited the Innu people in Quebec, Canada, in 2001. He also went to Japan in 2007. His messages were especially well received in European countries like France. He visited France in 2000, 2001, and 2003.

Indigenous peoples of the Xingu region lived apart from the rest of the world until the 20th century. They worked hard to pass down their traditions by word of mouth for many generations. Raoni found ways to connect these cultures with the world. He did this while keeping his dignity and distance. Even though he meets important people in many countries, he lives in a simple hut. He owns nothing. Any gifts he receives are always shared with others.

When he appears in public, he almost always wears a wreath of yellow feathers. He also wears Kayapo earrings and necklaces. He is easy to recognize because of his lip plate. This plate stretches his lower lip. Younger generations do not follow this tradition. Raoni is one of the last men to wear a lower lip plate.

In 2011, Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë made Chief Raoni an honorary citizen of Paris. He also received a medal from the French National Assembly. In 2019, environmental groups suggested him for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize. This was for his lifelong work defending the forest.

In a 2021 interview, Raoni said he wanted to keep fighting. He said, "All those people, with the help of current government, have already planned to deforest it all. I will not let them do (...) So, I will continue the fight."

Fighting the Belo Monte Dam

Raoni holding his international petition against the Belo Monte Dam in Paris.

In 2010, Raoni went on a trip to Europe. He visited France, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, and Luxembourg. During an interview on French TV, he declared war on the Belo Monte Dam project. This project threatened Indigenous lands along the Xingú river in Brazil. He said he was determined to protect the Amazon rainforest from a major disaster. He stated, "I asked my warriors to be ready for the war. I told the tribes of the High Xingú the same. We will not be pushed around."

During his trip, he promoted his book, Raoni, mémoires d'un chef indien. He was welcomed by former French president Jacques Chirac. Raoni supported the Chirac Foundation. This foundation works to protect Indigenous cultures and rainforest biodiversity. It also planned to create an institute in the Amazon.

He was also welcomed by Albert II, Prince of Monaco. Prince Albert is known for supporting nature protection. However, the former French president Nicolas Sarkozy did not meet Raoni during this trip. This was despite inviting Raoni to France in 2009.

The Brazilian Institute of Environment (IBAMA) was the last group that could stop the Belo Monte dam. On June 1, 2011, they gave permission to a group of Brazilian companies to build it. News spread quickly with a picture of Raoni crying. The news said his tears were because the project was approved. Chief Raoni denied this on his website. He said, "I didn't cry because of the authorization of the construction of the Belo Monte dam (...). President Dilma will cry but I will not." He added that President Dilma would have to kill him before the dam could be built. According to Amazon Watch, Raoni's crying was a Kayapo custom. They cry when they greet an old friend or relative they haven't seen in a long time.

In 2011, Chief Raoni went to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. He also took part in Rio+20 in 2012. Raoni did not give up. He received support from famous people like James Cameron and Sigourney Weaver. He also started an international petition in seven languages against the dam project.

However, President Dilma Rousseff did not listen to Chief Raoni. She made her decision with little thought for the dam's impacts. There was also minimal discussion with the Indigenous people. The building of the dam was later linked to a large corruption scheme. Chief Raoni became the biggest symbol of opposition to the Belo Monte dam.

Presidential Inauguration in 2023

Lula besides the people that delivered him the presidential sash in his third presidential inauguration

On January 1, 2023, Raoni took part in the inauguration ceremony for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula became the new president of Brazil. Raoni walked up the ramp to the presidential palace with Lula and seven other people. These people represented different social groups. Raoni helped give the presidential sash to the new Chief of State. The previous president, Jair Bolsonaro, had left for Orlando two days before the ceremony.

See also

• Raoni (also known as Raoni: The Fight for the Amazon) is a 1978 Belgian documentary film. It was directed by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux. The film shows challenges faced by Indigenous tribes in Brazil. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.