The Kayapo (Mebêngôkre), guardians of the forest

With more than 12,000 people, the Mebêngôkre people, meaning people from the water, better known as Kayapó, have inhabited and protected for decades a vast region of the Amazon rainforest extending from northern Mato Grosso to southern Pará, particularly in the Rio Xingu valley, covering more than 13 million hectares, equivalent to the area of ​​Greece.

Kayap ó

Kayapó is a word from the Tupi language meaning "similar to monkeys", given by other ethnic groups and eventually adopted by the natives when they began to be called that because of traditional body painting.

The Panará

About a century ago, they were not the only Kayapó in Brazil. About a thousand kilometers away, in the region extending from north of São Paulo to south of Goiás, lived the Southern Kayapó people, ancestors of the Panará people.

Although the name is the same, there was never much contact between the ancestors of these peoples. At the beginning of the ^20th century, this group nearly disappeared, and the few surviving Panará migrated to northern Mato Grosso, where they became neighbors of the Mebêngôkre.

Today, it is estimated that there are approximately 500 Panará living in the indigenous territory of the same name.

Lifestyle

In the Kayapo community, there is a chief per village whose main function is to coordinate all activities and pass on knowledge to young people to ensure the future.

Despite their communal lifestyle, women and children are separate from men. They have their own way of life, their own rituals, their own way of experiencing things.

They practice shifting cultivation, hunting, fishing, and gathering wild fruits. They travel by dugout canoe along the forest rivers, using hand-carved canoes to access resources.

They have a social organization based on solidarity and collective decision-making.

The dwellings are built mainly of wood and palm leaves, arranged to facilitate community life in a sort of circular camp, with the Ngab at the center, a place where women gather to organize daily activities and men to discuss politics or do crafts.

Cultural wealth

Traditionally, the Kayapo do not wear clothing, but adorn themselves with body paint and jewelry rich in symbolism. Kayapo culture is rich in traditions, songs, and dances. Their colorful costumes and body paint are unique artistic expressions reflecting their deep connection with nature.

Kayapo jewelry is a work of art in itself. It is often crafted from natural materials such as bird feathers, seeds, shells, and animal teeth. These colorful and elaborate pieces are worn with pride, reflecting the importance of culture and nature in Kayapo life.

Media coverage

The Kayapo people have become widely known to the general public since the media coverage of Chief Raoni in the late 1970s, with local media making him a natural figurehead in the fight to preserve the Amazon rainforest. They gained international recognition following a meeting with the singer Sting, which encouraged the creation of numerous foundations to protect their territories.

Chief Raoni is instantly recognizable by the traditional lip plate that stretches his lower lip and which he wears with great pride. Since subsequent generations did not maintain this custom, the chief is one of the very last known lip-plate wearers in the world. Although over 90 years old, he continues the fight against deforestation and for the recognition of Indigenous rights in Brazil by participating in international meetings (UN, COP, etc.), regularly meeting with world leaders, and managing to maintain his stoicism, composure, dignity, and way of life, living in a simple hut.

A harmonious coexistence

The Kayapo embody a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. Their commitment to preserving the Amazon and their inspiring culture remind everyone of the importance of protecting our environment for future generations.

You can find further information on the website of the Museum of Chinese and Ethnographic Art

Discover our jewelry made by Kayapo artisans

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