Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire, 93, expressed frustration over not being invited to speak officially at COP30 in Belém, joining a protest event in the Blue Zone on November 15. The next day, he spoke at the closing of the Peoples' Summit, highlighting climate change effects and delivering a letter with civil society's demands to the conference president.
On November 15, during COP30 in Belém (PA), Cacique Raoni Metuktire, leader of the Kayapó (Mebêngôkre) people, took part in an event in the Blue Zone—the official negotiations area—organized with support from the Panamanian delegation, at the The Climate Funds pavilion. His team claims he received no invitation for an official speech from the Brazilian COP presidency, led by André Corrêa do Lago, or the Lula government. 'We felt frustrated with this lack of dialogue. It was supposed to be Raoni's big event here at COP as the greatest indigenous leader,' said Mayalu Kokometi Waura Txucarramãe, coordinator of the Raoni Institute.
There were credential issues: initially only for Raoni and three companions, insufficient for the 93-year-old who uses a wheelchair. Panama facilitated for about 30 people. The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI) denied criticisms, stating it credentialed 360 indigenous people in the Blue Zone via the COParente initiative, dialoguing with 2,000 leaders. Raoni entered as an authority, with UN escort, and was accompanied by MPI.
At the event, Raoni called for defending the forest 'for the truth' and criticized funds for indigenous people not reaching them. 'This money has to be sent to us, so we can [...] protect our lands too,' he said. Afterward, Kayapó women sang. He met on November 16 at 2 p.m. with Ministers Marina Silva and Sônia Guajajara, André Corrêa do Lago, and Guilherme Boulos.
On the morning of November 16, Raoni spoke at the closing of the Peoples' Summit at UFPA, for an audience with Corrêa do Lago. He highlighted Belém's 32°C heat as a climate effect: 'Once again, I ask everyone that we can continue this mission to defend the life of the earth.' The Summit, with 15,000 participants from 62 countries over five days, delivered a letter demanding an end to fossil fuels, the Losses and Damages Fund, gender discussions, and criticism of IMF and World Bank. 'It's a way of saying that not everything negotiated in the official space serves us,' said Ayala Ferreira, from the Political Commission.
The event ended with a 'banquetaço' at Praça da República, offering dishes like tacacá and pirarucu in tucupi, valuing family farming affected by the climate crisis. Sônia Guajajara highlighted in a video Raoni's message on urgency, land demarcation, and deforestation reduction.