Sydney Possuelo
Encyclopedia
Sydney Ferreira Possuelo (São Paulo
, April 19, 1940) is a Brazil
ian explorer, social activist and ethnographer who is considered the leading authority on Brazil's remaining isolated Indigenous Peoples.
He started his career assisting the famous Villas Boas brothers
with their work among indigenous peoples
of the Xingu River
area. Later he became the Director of the Department of Unknown Tribes (Departamento de Indios Isolados) at the FUNAI
(National Indian Foundation of Brazil), doubling the surface size of officially designated Indigenous land in Brazil in only two years.
Working in the most isolated areas in the Amazon region, Possuelo has led many expeditions, getting in contact with isolated tribes in Brazil
, with the aim to protect them from other threats. He was responsible, among others, for the restoration of peaceful contact with the Korubo
Indians, who had previously killed some FUNAI officials.
For his many efforts Possuelo has received many prizes, including honors from the National Geographic Society
, Bartolomeu de las Casas in 1998, a gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society
, the title of "Hero of the Planet" by Time
Kids Magazine, as well as "Hero of the year" 2001 by United Nations.
Until January 24, 2006 he was head of the FUNAI Department of Unknown Tribes, a governmental bureau responsible for protecting the land and lifestyle of isolated tribes from encroaching settlers. Days earlier, he had criticized FUNAI director Mercio Pereira Gomes
for suggesting that Brazilian Indians held too much land, comparing Gomes to "ranchers, land-grabbers, miners, and loggers." Soon afterwards, Possuelo was dismissed from his position.
Possuelo is still continuing his efforts at defending isolated tribes through the non-governmential Instituto Indigenista Interamericano.
Possuelo is the main protagonist in the book The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes (2011) by National Geographic writer Scott Wallace
. It details a 76-day expedition in 2002 led by Possuelo to find the status of the "Arrow People", an uncontacted tribe in the Vale do Javari Indigenous Land.
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, April 19, 1940) is a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian explorer, social activist and ethnographer who is considered the leading authority on Brazil's remaining isolated Indigenous Peoples.
He started his career assisting the famous Villas Boas brothers
Villas Boas brothers
Orlando and his brothers Cláudio and Leonardo Villas-Bôas were Brazilian activists regarding indigenous peoples.-Achievements:...
with their work among indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
of the Xingu River
Xingu River
The Xingu River , also called Rio Xingu, is a 1,230-mile long, river in north Brazil; it is a southeast tributary of the Amazon River.-Description and history:...
area. Later he became the Director of the Department of Unknown Tribes (Departamento de Indios Isolados) at the FUNAI
Funai
Funai Electric is a Japanese consumer electronics company headquartered in Daitō, Osaka. The company was founded in 1961. It owns the subsidiary Funai Corporation, Inc., established in the United States since 1991, to market and maintain Funai-licensed brands such as Sylvania, Emerson Radio,...
(National Indian Foundation of Brazil), doubling the surface size of officially designated Indigenous land in Brazil in only two years.
Working in the most isolated areas in the Amazon region, Possuelo has led many expeditions, getting in contact with isolated tribes in Brazil
Indigenous peoples in Brazil
The Indigenous peoples in Brazil comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who inhabited the country prior to the European invasion around 1500...
, with the aim to protect them from other threats. He was responsible, among others, for the restoration of peaceful contact with the Korubo
Korubo
Korubo or Korubu is the name given to a tribe of indigenous people living in the Javari Valley, in the Western Amazon Basin. The group calls themselves 'Dslala', and in Portuguese they are referred to as caceteiros...
Indians, who had previously killed some FUNAI officials.
For his many efforts Possuelo has received many prizes, including honors from the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
, Bartolomeu de las Casas in 1998, a gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, the title of "Hero of the Planet" by Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
Kids Magazine, as well as "Hero of the year" 2001 by United Nations.
Until January 24, 2006 he was head of the FUNAI Department of Unknown Tribes, a governmental bureau responsible for protecting the land and lifestyle of isolated tribes from encroaching settlers. Days earlier, he had criticized FUNAI director Mercio Pereira Gomes
Mércio Pereira Gomes
Mércio Pereira Gomes is a Brazilian anthropologist who presently teaches at the Universidade Federal Fluminense , in Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro. He received his Ph.D...
for suggesting that Brazilian Indians held too much land, comparing Gomes to "ranchers, land-grabbers, miners, and loggers." Soon afterwards, Possuelo was dismissed from his position.
Possuelo is still continuing his efforts at defending isolated tribes through the non-governmential Instituto Indigenista Interamericano.
Possuelo is the main protagonist in the book The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes (2011) by National Geographic writer Scott Wallace
Scott Wallace (photojournalist)
Scott Wallace is a freelance writer, producer, and photojournalist and a contributor to National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Adventure. He is the author of The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes...
. It details a 76-day expedition in 2002 led by Possuelo to find the status of the "Arrow People", an uncontacted tribe in the Vale do Javari Indigenous Land.
External links
- National Geographic Article about Possuelo
- Heroes for the Planet (Time for Kids)
- BBC News: Brazilian lost tribe discovered
- Video interviews of Possuelo
- Brazil's Indians: Land wars - Feb 2, 2006 (The Economist)
- Departamento de Indios Isolados
- SYDNEY POSSUELO Sacked for speaking his mind after a lifetime defending indigenous rights
- Champion for Brazil's indigenous gets fired