Following visit from Angelina Jolie, Brazilian Kayapó Chief Raoni meets Lula, warns against oil drilling

São Paulo, Brazil — On the heels of internet hosting American actress and activist Angelina Jolie simply days earlier than, Chief Raoni Metuktire, probably the most outstanding 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, positioned within the Capoto-Jarina Indigenous Territory throughout the Xingu Nationwide Park. The territory is within the far north of the Mato Grosso state — a area that lies within the southern reaches of the Brazilian Amazon.

The go to was marked by a symbolic and long-awaited assembly with Chief Raoni Metuktire, a outstanding chief of the Kayapó individuals who is extensively thought to be essentially the most influential Indigenous determine in Brazil.

Chief Raoni, who has lengthy been acknowledged internationally for his tireless advocacy to guard the Amazon rainforest, stays sharp-minded and lively on the age of 93. In the course of the ceremony, Lula awarded him the Grand Cross of the Nationwide Order of Advantage — Brazil’s highest civilian honor — in recognition of a lifetime devoted to defending the setting and Indigenous rights.

In a speech throughout the occasion, Lula described the tribute as greater than deserved, calling Raoni “one of many nice names in historical past.”

“It’s with nice pleasure that we bestow this honor — the Grand Cross of the Nationwide Order of Advantage, the very best ornament granted by the Brazilian state. A tireless warrior for Indigenous peoples, for the setting, and for the Amazon, our pricey Raoni stays unwavering in his noble mission to unfold Indigenous tradition and foster respect for native peoples and the forest,” Lula said.

Seated beside Lula inside a standard thatched home, Raoni additionally took the ground — and didn’t shrink back from delivering a pointed message. He known as on the Brazilian authorities to step up efforts to guard Indigenous communities and raised issues over a politically delicate subject for Lula: the potential oil exploration within the Foz do Amazonas basin, a marine space off Brazil’s equatorial coast, between the states of Amapá and Rio Grande do Norte.

“I’ve heard that within the Foz do Amazonas, you might be contemplating extracting oil from beneath the ocean flooring,” Raoni said. “I don’t suppose that’s the precise path. The way in which issues are actually, we nonetheless have an opportunity to maintain the environment cleaner and scale back world warming. But when oil drilling goes ahead, I communicate additionally as a shaman: I’ve had contact with spirits who warn of the grave penalties that lie forward if we preserve destroying and destroying. The injury might be immense and irreversible.”

Brazil’s state-controlled oil firm, Petrobras, is awaiting environmental approval from Ibama, the federal environmental company, to start exploratory drilling within the space. 

Ibama has already denied two earlier requests, in 2023 and 2024. In February, the company’s technical workers really useful rejecting the corporate’s proposal a 3rd time, arguing that Petrobras had failed to offer sufficient safeguards in case of a possible oil spill. 

President Lula has expressed assist for the exploration and has reportedly pushed for the license to be granted.

Whereas Lula’s extremely anticipated go to to Xingu was steeped in symbolism, it yielded no concrete coverage bulletins for Indigenous communities. 

The president emphasised the important position that Indigenous peoples play in preserving ecosystems and curbing local weather change, however stopped wanting introducing new initiatives or assist measures.

Nonetheless, in a publish on his official X account, Lula described the go to to Piaraçu as essentially the most significant of his whole political profession.

“I’ve traveled the world. I’ve met greater than 120 presidents, kings, queens, and emperors. However none of these encounters, none of these palaces, examine to what I’m experiencing right here with the Indigenous peoples of Xingu and my companion Raoni,” he wrote.

Simply two days earlier than Lula’s arrival, Chief Raoni hosted American actress and humanitarian activist Angelina Jolie in the identical village.

Identified for her advocacy on environmental and human rights points, Jolie spent hours in dialog with Raoni and different native leaders to raised perceive the challenges they face — together with deforestation, unlawful mining, land grabbing, and the fast growth of agribusiness.

Featured Picture: Assembly between President Lula and Chief Raoni within the Piaraçu village, Xingu Nationwide Park. (Picture credit score: Ricardo Stuckert / Presidency of Brazil by way of Flickr)