Raoni

Raoni is a masterful testament to resilience, wisdom, and the unbreakable spirit of one of the Amazon's greatest guardians. Through vivid storytelling and intimate detail, Marc Meyers brings us into a world few have truly seen. The result is both a gripping biography of an incredible individual and truly fascinating map of the knowledge, cosmology, and resilience of the Kayapó, a people born from the jungle. This book is a gift, a window into the spirit of what it means to be human and the ancestral wisdom the world needs now more than ever. It is a powerful and necessary work.
Albert Yu-Min Lin, Ph.D. - National Geographic Explorer


The life of the heroic and legendary Chief Raoni, the defender of the forest and protector of his people, is presented. The emphasis is on his surviving in the forest, fishing, hunting, and leading his people to preserve their territory. Thirty masterful illustrations by Casey Beifuss of important phases of his life accompany the text.
This illustrated work is a poetic biography of Raoni's life, revealing aspects often ignored in official biographies. We venture with him into the forests, accompany the boy as he becomes a man, participate in the challenges of tribal life, and are with the Kayapó as they are led by Raoni and defend their lands against invasions by settlers on the Xingu River.
Born in the 1930’s in a Kayapó village on the Xingu River, one of the majestic tributaries of the Amazon River, he was educated in the indigenous skills passed down by his tribe: forest knowledge, fighting and oratory. The invaders were already advancing into the Kayapó territories: rubber tappers were harvesting the forest to collect the precious sap and sell it on the international market. The Kayapó were fierce warriors who fought sporadic wars with neighboring tribes, in a Darwinian process that ensured the survival and maintenance of their territory. Rubber tappers and ranchers became the antagonists in these conflicts.
The encounter with the Villas Bôas brothers in the 1940s, FUNAI employees sent by the central government of Brazil to 'pacify' the Indians, changed everything. Raoni quickly learned that intertribal fighting was suicidal and would lead to mutual extermination. The Villas Bôas brothers took the defense of Indigenous culture and territory seriously, dedicated their lives to it, and are today recognized as Brazilian heroes, in the tradition of Rondon.
Raoni took a leading role in driving an ever-growing horde of invaders from the Indigenous lands. He did this with minimal bloodshed and, together with the Villas Bôas brothers, created the Xingu National Park, a large tract of land on the banks of the river. This was challenged over the years by the forces of “progress” who sought to occupy the land.
Raoni’s achievements are monumental. His association with Belgian cinematographer Jean-Pierre Dutilleux and British singer Sting helped propel him into the global spotlight. He traveled to Europe several times and met with many leaders. This has been important in gaining respect and recognition in Brazil and has been instrumental in preserving Indigenous lands and culture. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice and is responsible for the growing respect that Indigenous peoples are gaining in Brazil. If it were not for heroes like Rondon and Raoni, we would be witnessing the twilight of Indigenous cultures in Brazil today.
I wrote this work to reinforce the absolute necessity to protect the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants. I remember the wise words of a Paiter Surui chief on one of my travels through the Amazon:
“The Indian protects the forest. If you eliminate the Indians, the forest will also disappear.”
The royalties are donated to Instituto Raoni.