June 2, 2022
14:06
Iury Lima – Cenarium Magazine
VILHENA (RO) – All the capitals of the Legal Amazon and 41 other Brazilian cities dawned this Thursday, 2nd, with the image of Chief Raoni Metuktire printed on walls and avenues. The tribute paid to one of the greatest indigenous leaders in the country, alive, is promoted by the Megaphone Project, in a partnership between 20 civil society organizations, in addition to individuals.
The initiative marks the week in which the World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, completes 50 years. The idea is to ‘demonize’ the cities, according to the project’s coordinator, Jonaya de Castro. For this reason, the organizers spread six square meters of wheat-paste – popular posters, especially in big cities – with the image of Raoni, made by the art activists Matsi, grandson of the indigenous leader, and Raul Zito. They use art as a form of activism.
In Manaus, graffiti artist Raiz Campos created a huge mural in the city center, inspired by the cacique. The event also has projections scheduled for this Thursday in eight points in São Paulo, Recife, Tefé (AM) and Belo Horizonte.
Raoni: living example
Although Raoni’s age is not known for sure, it is estimated that he is 91 years old. He has been active since he was very young, starting in the mid 1950’s, in defense and respect for the rights of traditional populations of the country, besides holding the title of being the only Brazilian indigenous person ever nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“The objective of this tribute is to show how grateful we are for the trajectory and struggle of cacique Raoni for the protection of the forest, of traditional territories, and also because he is a figure who invites dialogue, through his peacemaking actions that have generated much conversation, debate and positive attitudes around the demarcation of Indigenous Lands, and a little peace in the forests of Brazil,” explained the coordinator of the action, Jonaya de Castro, in an interview to CENARIUM.
“We have the obligation to pay this tribute. Internationally, he is honored, why wouldn’t it be in Brazil? It is an act of citizenship to pay homage to him and put him on the city walls,” added de Castro.
Jonaya also highlights the fact that Raoni is a great inspiration for new leaders, such as Txai Suruí and other names of digital activism in favor of the environment, but he ponders that the chief should inspire, in the first place, the political agents of the country. “He should be an inspiration for the candidates for the Presidency of the Republic, for the candidates for the House of Representatives (…) we want leaders like Raoni in the places where power is vested,” she evaluated.
‘Amazonic’ identity
Whoever walks down 10 de Julho Street, this Thursday (and for the next few days), in downtown Manaus, will find a magnificent graffiti, made by Raiz Campos. “Now, Manaus is properly ‘Raonized’ (…) This mural sought to show Raoni as a warrior, using the ‘psychoamazonic’ style, which allows the use of techniques and abundance of colors to represent the diversity of the forest and the sacred medicines of the forest,” wrote the graffiti artist, when posting the result of the work on the networks.
The coordinator of the tribute, meanwhile, says she “hopes very much” that people will reflect upon finding the images scattered around urban centers. “I, for example, look and think: he could be my grandfather. He fought a lot and his voice echoes to this day,” she said.
In the vision of Jander Manauara, member of the Intercultural Association of Urban Hip-Hop from the Amazon (AIHHUAM), one of the collectives participating in the project, the initiative has the duty to break barriers.
“There are people who don’t even live in the Amazon, but recognize themselves more with it than many people who are here, like when the production of the mural was under execution, here in Manaus: several people stopped to question us the reason for a mural with the image of Raoni and not of one or another such representation. So one can see that the Amazon is still very conservative and far from being recognized (…) Raoni’s struggle does not speak only of one ethnic group, it speaks of all the native peoples and what he represents to all of them,” he declared to CENARIUM.
The exhibition of wheat-paste throughout Brazil and the mural in the capital city of Manaus is also a great opportunity of immersion for those who still do not know the trajectory of Raoni Metuktire.
“Among our wheat-paste, we have the big lambe, with six square meters, and the smaller one, beside it, telling his [Raoni’s] story, including the context, how he met the Villas Bôas brothers, all the pacification and dialogue that the indigenous leader opened with various ethnic groups, until the moment of nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize”, Jonaya emphasized.
Artivism
De Castro makes it clear: “the defense of nature and the dignity of peoples who depend on it – all of us – is done with the ‘weapons’ at hand.”
“Our tools, as urban collectives, are artistic and cultural tools. So, we glue wheat-paste, we do graffiti, projections, we put together concerts and festivals (…) So, within our cultural and artistic possibilities, we will occupy the city with ‘Raonis’ [that’s right, plural],” she said.
“From the understanding of climate change and global warming, we have to protect the Amazon. Everyone who is in Brazil has a duty to ensure that. We make wheat-paste not only to honor the cacique, but also because we are concerned about the Amazon. Because we want to participate in the defense of the forest. Because we want to continue existing on the planet. And, for this, we need the forest standing”.
Jonaya de Castro, coordinator of the project.
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