Chief Raoni Metuktire, also known simply as Chief Raoni or Ropni, was born in 1932 in the village of Krajmopyjakare (now known as Kapôt), deep in Kayapo territory. Over the decades, he has become a global icon of Indigenous resistance and environmental protection. As a lifelong leader of the Kayapo people, Raoni has stood at the intersection of ancestral wisdom and modern diplomacy—championing Indigenous rights, forest preservation, and the dignity of his people on the world stage.
Internationally recognized as a living symbol of the fight to preserve the Amazon and Indigenous cultures, Raoni has inspired millions of environmentalists and activists across generations. His legacy is not just one of advocacy, but of lasting, tangible victories for the forest and its people.
Photo: Martin Schoeller
Raoni's Historic Life & Global Impact
Raoni first encountered the outside world in 1954, at age 22, alongside other members of the Metuktire group of the Kayapo. It was a turning point that marked the beginning of a lifetime spent navigating two worlds: defending Kayapo lands from outside encroachment while building strategic alliances beyond the forest.
His rise to international prominence began in 1987, when the British musician Sting visited him in the Xingu region. This meeting sparked a global campaign to support the Kayapo’s efforts to stop deforestation and resist mega-projects like the Belo Monte Dam—which threatened to flood Indigenous lands and devastate the ecosystem.
From April to June 1989, Raoni toured 17 countries with Sting. This landmark campaign led to the creation of 12 rainforest foundations around the world, helping raise funds for what would become one of the largest protected Indigenous rainforest reserves in the world.
Raoni with Sting in 1989 in Paris, Photo:
"The deforestation of the Amazon's forests is not good for us Indigenous peoples, and white man needs to rethink and preserve what remains of the Amazon" - Raoni Metuktire
In 1993, thanks to global support and local organizing, Raoni’s vision became reality: the Xingu Indigenous Lands were unified across the Baú, Kaiapó, Panará, Kapôt Jarina, Bàdjumkôre, and Mekragnotire territories. These lands now span over 180,000 km² and are recognized under Brazil’s Constitution—one of the most significant achievements in Indigenous land protection worldwide.
Raoni’s work did not stop there. In the decades that followed, he continued to advocate globally:
In 2000, he met French President Jacques Chirac, who called him a “living symbol of the fight for the environment.”
In 2001, he traveled to Quebec to meet with the Innu people.
In 2007, he visited Japan to share his message.
In 2010, during a campaign in Europe, he openly declared resistance against the Belo Monte Dam:
“I asked my warriors to be ready for war. I told the tribes of the Upper Xingu the same. We will not be pushed around.”
President Lula da Silva visiting Kayapo Territory Photo: Ricardo-Stuckert
Photo: Rainforest Foundation Japan
Even into his 90s, Raoni remains an active leader. On January 1, 2023, he participated in the inauguration ceremony of Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, symbolizing the continued relevance and strength of Indigenous voices in national politics.
"You need to understand that if you don't preserve the forest, we will all have problems, all of us!" - Raoni Metuktire
Indigenous Values in Action
Raoni’s life reflects the core values of the Kayapo people: territorial defense, collective leadership, cultural pride, and resilience. He has consistently embodied the principle that the forest and its people are inseparable—that defending one means protecting both.
While he has met with presidents and appeared on global stages, Raoni has never strayed from his Kayapo identity. His warrior spirit, rooted in generations of Kayapo resistance, guides his diplomacy. He speaks not only as a representative of his people but also as a messenger for all Indigenous nations whose lands and ways of life are under threat.
Chief Raoni is more than a historical figure—he is living proof of the power of Indigenous leadership to shape the future of the planet.
Photo: Rafael Forsetto