By Latin America Reports | Created at 2025-04-06 00:01:22 | Updated at 2025-04-06 20:36:20
1 day ago
São Paulo, Brazil — On the heels of hosting American actress and activist Angelina Jolie just days before, Chief Raoni Metuktire, one of the most prominent Indigenous leaders in Brazil, met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honor upon the chief.
On Friday President Lula visited the Piaraçu village, located in the Capoto-Jarina Indigenous Territory within the Xingu National Park. The territory is in the far north of the Mato Grosso state — a region that lies in the southern reaches of the Brazilian Amazon.
The visit was marked by a symbolic and long-awaited meeting with Chief Raoni Metuktire, a prominent leader of the Kayapó people who is widely regarded as the most influential Indigenous figure in Brazil.
Chief Raoni, who has long been recognized internationally for his tireless advocacy to protect the Amazon rainforest, remains sharp-minded and active at the age of 93. During the ceremony, Lula awarded him the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit — Brazil’s highest civilian honor — in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to defending the environment and Indigenous rights.
Lula and Raoni(photo: Ricardo Stuckert / Presidency of Brazil via Flickr)
In a speech during the event, Lula described the tribute as more than deserved, calling Raoni “one of the great names in history.”
“It is with great joy that we bestow this honor — the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, the highest decoration granted by the Brazilian state. A tireless warrior for Indigenous peoples, for the environment, and for the Amazon, our dear Raoni remains unwavering in his noble mission to spread Indigenous culture and foster respect for native peoples and the forest,” Lula said.
Seated beside Lula inside a traditional thatched house, Raoni also took the floor — and did not shy away from delivering a pointed message. He called on the Brazilian government to step up efforts to protect Indigenous communities and raised concerns over a politically sensitive topic for Lula: the potential oil exploration in the Foz do Amazonas basin, a marine area off Brazil’s equatorial coast, between the states of Amapá and Rio Grande do Norte.
“I’ve heard that in the Foz do Amazonas, you are considering extracting oil from beneath the sea floor,” Raoni said. “I don’t think that’s the right path. The way things are now, we still have a chance to keep our environment cleaner and reduce global warming. But if oil drilling goes forward, I speak also as a shaman: I’ve had contact with spirits who warn of the grave consequences that lie ahead if we keep destroying and destroying. The damage will be immense and irreversible.”
President Lula visits Piaraçu village, Xingu National Park(Photo credit: Ricardo Stuckert / Presidency of Brazil via Flickr)
Brazil’s state-controlled oil company, Petrobras, is awaiting environmental approval from Ibama, the federal environmental agency, to begin exploratory drilling in the area.
Ibama has already denied two previous requests, in 2023 and 2024. In February, the agency’s technical staff recommended rejecting the company’s proposal a third time, arguing that Petrobras had failed to provide adequate safeguards in case of a potential oil spill.
President Lula has expressed support for the exploration and has reportedly pushed for the license to be granted.
While Lula’s highly anticipated visit to Xingu was steeped in symbolism, it yielded no concrete policy announcements for Indigenous communities.
Piaraçu Village, Xingu National Park(photo credit: Ricardo Stuckert / Presidency of Brazil via Flickr)
The president emphasized the essential role that Indigenous peoples play in preserving ecosystems and curbing climate change, but stopped short of introducing new initiatives or support measures.
Still, in a post on his official X account, Lula described the visit to Piaraçu as the most meaningful of his entire political career.
“I’ve traveled the world. I’ve met more than 120 presidents, kings, queens, and emperors. But none of those encounters, none of those palaces, compare to what I’m experiencing here with the Indigenous peoples of Xingu and my companion Raoni,” he wrote.
Just two days before Lula’s arrival, Chief Raoni hosted American actress and humanitarian activist Angelina Jolie in the same village.
Known for her advocacy on environmental and human rights issues, Jolie spent hours in conversation with Raoni and other local leaders to better understand the challenges they face — including deforestation, illegal mining, land grabbing, and the rapid expansion of agribusiness.
Featured Image: Meeting between President Lula and Chief Raoni in the Piaraçu village, Xingu National Park. (Photo credit: Ricardo Stuckert / Presidency of Brazil via Flickr)
