The underrepresentation of Indigenous voices in universities, including Stanford, has been a concern. However, on Sept. 24, a remarkable event hopefully signaled the beginning of turning those tides around. Raoni Metuktire, cacique (the Portuguese word for “chief”) of the Kayapó People, and his grandson, Beptuk Metuktire, from the Amazon, visited Stanford as part of the Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Lecture Series.
When Chief Raoni’s lecture was announced, we felt both excitement and honor at hosting such an iconic environmental leader. We remember our advisor, Professor Rodolfo Dirzo, calling us into his office to share the news. His enthusiasm reflected our own, and as Brazilians, he trusted us to assist with translations, logistics and ensuring that Chief Raoni felt welcome during his visit. We were aware of the weight of such responsibility, acknowledging the significance of his lifelong fight for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and the conservation of the Amazon.
On the day of the lecture, anticipation hung in the air. As the room filled with voices in multiple languages, we felt both relief and excitement. We were anxious to sense how the Stanford community would receive such a visitor. At 93 years old, Chief Raoni spoke at Stanford as part of his life mission to communicate threats faced by nature, Indigenous peoples, their cultures and lands in the Amazon.
Chief Raoni, one of the most prominent Indigenous leaders in Brazil and South America, was nominated for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for his lifelong defense of the Amazon and its people. His message deeply resonated with us, not only as Ph.D. students in biology, but also as members of an international academic community engaged in biodiversity conservation, environmental justice and the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Chief Raoni’s speech was preceded by the premiere of Lucas Ramos’ documentary “O Chamado do Cacique: Herança, Terra e Futuro” (The Chief’s Call: Heritage, Land and Future). The film captures a July 2023 Indigenous meeting organized by Raoni in the Piaraçú village in Mato Grosso, where Indigenous Peoples gathered to advocate for their rights and the protection of the Amazon.
Chief Raoni effusively conveyed his concern about the destruction from deforestation, illegal mining and large-scale ranching in the Brazilian Amazon. He stressed that the Indigenous fight to protect the Amazon represents a global struggle for humanity’s future. Noting changes in the forest, he stated, “Many things have changed, and they are deeply affecting us.” Raoni emphasized that his fight to protect Indigenous lands is not limited to conservation alone; it’s also about honoring the rights, cultures and wisdom of those who have been true nature stewards for generations.
It is not every day that we have the privilege of listening to a leader of Chief Raoni’s stature. His words reminded us of the responsibilities we carry as Brazilians living abroad and the urgency of using our platforms to amplify voices like his. Chief Raoni’s lifelong dedication to protecting the Amazon and Indigenous Lands felt both humbling and empowering, leaving us with a sense of purpose and a call to action.
Chief Raoni is recognized for his vital role in establishing the Indigenous Lands of Capoto, Jarina, Menkragnoti and Baú. He highlighted the pressing need to support Indigenous Land demarcation and oppose the “Marco Temporal” (Time Limit) policy. This contentious policy allows the designation of new Indigenous Lands only in areas where Indigenous people have been present since 1988, when the Brazilian Constitution was enacted. By that time, however, many Indigenous groups had already been displaced from their ancestral territories.
Chief Raoni shared his experiences with the forest spirits and how he perceives the Earth as a fruit from a bigger tree, the Universe. Many in the hard sciences may find this perspective unusual due to the field’s materialism. However, it provokes us to reflect on how often we are disconnected from the natural world, including on a spiritual level. His shared traditional wisdom transcends scientific data, reminding us of the sacredness of the environment we seek to protect.
Chief Raoni, as a “pajé” (shaman), often encounters forest spirits who seek to share their concerns with him. He recalled a significant experience with a huge bird that took him to the top of a massive tree. During this encounter, Raoni described the Earth as a fruit growing from a great tree that supports all of us. “We live on one branch, while the forest spirits observe and protect us from other branches. However, any harm done to the mother tree affects us all,” he said. The same is true with the Amazon and our planet. Like the branches of this tree, the Amazon serves as a vital component of Earth’s ecological system, supporting biodiversity, regulating climate and sustaining countless life forms.
During the Dean’s Lecture Series event, Chief Raoni spoke only in Kayapó. His grandson translated the chief’s words into Portuguese, which were simultaneously translated into English for the audience. Without Beptuk’s presence on that day, we would not have accessed Chief Raoni’s wisdom, highlighting the importance of traditional intergenerational knowledge. Most of the knowledge — and beliefs held by the elderly — could be lost, reminding us that both biological and cultural diversity in the Amazon are at risk.
In the closing remarks, Beptuk took the lead to share a take-home message to the audience on behalf of the Kayapó People. He emphasized that through their traditional practices and way of living, Indigenous peoples preserve the forest for future generations. He stressed that we should take action to help Indigenous peoples by supporting the demarcation of new Indigenous Lands and most importantly, ensuring that these lands are constantly monitored to prevent invasions by outside interests, such as illegal mining and predatory agribusiness.
Reflecting on this event, we appreciate that Professor Rodolfo Dirzo, who also has Indigenous roots and research developed on the Amazon, graciously hosted Chief Raoni in an academic space such as Stanford. Such events recognize the traditional knowledge of the Kayapó People and reinforce our commitment to amplifying their voices and supporting those who have been protecting the environment long before these issues gained attention in academia or mainstream consciousness.
For the non-Brazilian community, Chief Raoni’s visit was undoubtedly an invaluable opportunity to learn about the struggle of Indigenous People in the Amazon and the intersection of biodiversity conservation and Indigenous Peoples’ rights more broadly. While advocating for the Kayapó people, Chief Raoni’s message transcends borders, urging all of us to question how we can contribute to a more just and sustainable world. His fight echoes the struggle of many Indigenous Peoples around the world, including the Ohlone People in California, which could be more relatable to the non-Brazilian attendees at Stanford that day.
Being in the same room and hearing the messages in Kayapó from a leader who inspired us to protect the Amazon was invaluable. We hope that hearing other Indigenous voices from California, from the United States and around the world in academic spaces will become to feel like a day-to-day reality instead of a rare, unique event.
We hope that Chief Raoni’s visit to Stanford may amplify the need for deeper engagement with issues of the conservation of the Amazon, environmental justice and traditional ecological knowledge. It’s vital to have ambassadors like Chief Raoni to advocate for preserving nature and Indigenous peoples’ rights. However, his talk is a gentle reminder that substantial change cannot solely rely on waiting for some key voices to act, but that we, collectively, need to take bold steps — an invitation we all must take seriously.
Rodrigo Béllo Carvalho is a second-year biology Ph.D student. Luisa Genes is a fifth-year biology Ph.D. student.
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