Casa Maraca, the indigenous communication space during COP30, hosted a meeting this Tuesday afternoon (11th) between two prominent figures of Brazilian culture: singer Gilberto Gil and chief Raoni Metictile.
At an event held alongside a United Nations conference on climate change, they spoke in short statements about preserving their ancestors and nature in front of mostly indigenous guests.
The Bahian singer said that his relationship with the natural world is a source of inspiration for his art, and that the natural world has always existed.
“My introduction to natural life naturally began in my mother’s womb, even before consciousness was born,” he said, emphasizing that this idea of being “surrounded by nature” grew throughout his life.
“I think that even after we leave here, this awareness, this deep feeling of belonging to the world, belonging to the earth, belonging to nature, and our responsibility to coexist with this force will all remain.”
Raoni, on the other hand, strongly defended indigenous unity against destruction by whites. “We must unite and think together, with the sole purpose of protecting ourselves,” the Kayapo leader said. His grandson, Pachon Makitiktil, translated.
Raoni also spoke about mechanisms proposed to raise funds for indigenous peoples, such as the Tropical Forest Forever Fund (TFFF). Created by the Brazilian government, TFFF will transfer 20% of its income to indigenous peoples.
“We must demand that these resources reach indigenous peoples because it is an alternative to ending illegal activities on their lands,” he stressed.
“You are all aware that there is more and more deforestation. You are aware of the changes that are happening. The temperatures are getting hotter. What the loggers are doing, what the deforestation, what the miners are doing, what the land is being turned back is not good. If the destruction continues like this, we could face even bigger problems,” he warned.
The event was also attended by Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Marcia Lorenberg, Secretary of Citizenship and Cultural Diversity at the Ministry of Culture, and Daniela Huyck, Deputy Executive Director of Conservation International, the NGO that promoted the event.
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