Amazonian Indigenous leader Chief Raoni Metuktire has declared his opposition to proposed oil drilling initiatives in Brazil’s Amazon region, citing the environmental dangers and threats to local communities. In a firm statement given to Reuters this week, Raoni warned of the consequences of extractive industries on Indigenous lands and the global climate. His remarks come amid pressure on Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration to balance economic development with environmental and Indigenous rights.

Chief Raoni’s position has garnered support from various environmental organizations and Indigenous rights groups worldwide. As a significant voice in the global fight for environmental protection for over six decades, Raoni has continuously emphasized the incompatibility of oil drilling with the preservation of the forest and the well-being of its inhabitants. “We call on you to stop what you are doing, to stop the destruction, to stop your attack on the spirits of our ancestors… When you weaken the land like that, it starts to die.” He stated in a 2019 article given to The Guardian, adding that, “If our Earth dies, then none of us will be able to live, and we too will all die.” Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, has previously expressed understanding of Raoni’s concerns, noting that “we are doing all we can for the benefit of all Brazilian citizens. Under President Lula’s guidance, all government sectors are trying to address climate change transversely and in dialogue with all of society.” However, other government officials have hinted that oil exploration could be part of the country’s broader strategy to combat poverty and stimulate growth in underdeveloped regions.

Chief Raoni’s resistance reflects a much-needed moral and societal wake-up call. In an era of climate crisis, Indigenous wisdom must be heard and respected as central to sustainable solutions. These vital perspectives have a proven track record of protecting biodiversity, exemplified by the 2.2 million Indigenous people living in sustained harmony with the Amazon’s forests. Furthermore, extraction in the Amazon is not just a local issue but a global concern. According to Scientific American, “roughly half the Amazon’s carbon store is in the soil. The other half is in its trees, which contain about 20 percent of all the carbon captured by vegetation across the planet…without the forest’s surface-cooling effect, regional temperatures would rise by several degrees.” While Brazil seeks economic development, it must not ignore the long-term environmental devastation and human rights violations often accompanying oil extractive industries.

Historically, the Amazon has faced relentless exploitation—first from illegal logging, then from cattle ranching, and now, increasingly, from resource extraction. Since the 1960s, Indigenous leaders have pushed back against waves of development projects that have threatened their lands and ways of life. The recent revival of interest in oil exploration echoes past conflicts, especially during the military dictatorship era when large-scale infrastructure projects displaced entire communities. These tensions have escalated in recent years, particularly under the Bolsonaro administration, which sought to open protected lands to commercial interests. President Lula, who returned to office with promises to protect the Amazon, now faces a significant test of his environmental commitments.

Raoni’s call to halt oil drilling is more than just a political gesture—it is a warning. The Amazon rainforest is pivotal in regulating global climate systems, storing vast amounts of carbon, and sustaining unparalleled biodiversity. Oil extraction efforts would inevitably displace the more than 400 tribes in the Amazon. Disregarding its ecological integrity for short-term gains could have irreversible consequences for the Indigenous population within the Amazon and the world. Moreover, peace and security are deeply tied to environmental justice. When ecosystems are protected, communities can thrive, conflicts are less likely, and the foundation for lasting peace is made possible. Leaders like Raoni are sounding the alarm, and we would do well to listen—not just for the sake of the Amazon but for the future of us all.