Raoni Metuktire, the 94-year-old chief of Brazil’s Kayapo tribe, has spent his life advocating for the protection of the Amazon rainforest. Known as one of the region’s most prominent environmental defenders, Metuktire’s influence extends both within Brazil and internationally. Born into a nomadic lifestyle in the Amazon, he did not encounter the outside world until his early twenties.

Metuktire has long spoken out against the exploitation of the Amazon by industrial development and extractive industries. In recent years, he has increased his calls for global action to combat illegal mining, logging, and oil drilling, which contribute to worsening droughts and wildfires across the region. At COP 30, held last year in Belem, Brazil, he led a flotilla of 100 boats on the Amazon River to protest against ongoing oil exploration and infrastructure projects that threaten the rainforest and Indigenous communities.

His advocacy first drew widespread attention in the late 1980s when he partnered with British musician Sting and his wife Trudie Styler to campaign against the construction of hydroelectric dams on the Xingu River, a critical tributary of the Amazon. Their efforts successfully halted dam development at that time. However, the threat to the river and surrounding ecosystems resurfaced with proposals for up to 60 hydroelectric dams. These plans were ultimately rejected in 2016, largely due to strong resistance from Indigenous groups, including Metuktire’s leadership.

Metuktire’s activism has been marked not only by environmental concerns but also by outspoken criticism of Brazilian political leadership. In his memoir, "Memórias do Cacique" ("The Chief’s Memoirs"), published last year, he accused former President Jair Bolsonaro’s government of pursuing policies that endangered Indigenous peoples and their lands. More recently, Metuktire has engaged with current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, warning him of the harmful impacts of ongoing oil drilling in Amazonian territories.

In recognition of his lifelong commitment to environmental protection and Indigenous rights, the Brazilian government awarded Metuktire the Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit, the country's highest civilian honor. His continued leadership reflects the persistent challenges facing the Amazon and its Indigenous defenders amid growing threats from economic development and climate change.