Sydney Possuelo

Sydney Ferreira Possuelo is one of the last great explorers of the twentieth century, and undoubtedly one of the most ethical. Born in 1940 in São Paulo, he discovered his vocation alongside the legendary Villas-Bôas brothers, pioneers of the Xingu Indigenous Park, whom he accompanied in the 1960s. During this period, he formed a deep bond with the Kayapo people, particularly with the young Raoni Metuktire, who would later become the iconic leader of Indigenous struggles. He lived for many years in their village, learning their language, customs, and way of inhabiting the world. This intimate bond, forged through mutual trust, has never been broken. In the film Amazonia, Heart of Mother Earth, his moving reunion with the Kayapo—filled with emotion and respect—reveals the enduring attachment he continues to feel for those he calls his friends, his family.

Possuelo devoted more than forty years of his life to protecting the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil. In 1987, he founded the Department of Isolated Indians within the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI) and became the first to implement a policy of non-contact, thereby revolutionizing Brazil’s approach. His guiding principle was clear: to respect the fundamental right of these Peoples to live in peace, far from the outside world, according to their own laws. Under his leadership, the department developed strict protection protocols – non-intrusive reconnaissance flights, remote surveillance bases, and a complete ban on any approach or attempt at contact. He established a true change of paradigm, replacing the former logic of “pacification” with an ethic of distance and absolute respect.

Appointed President of FUNAI from 1991 to 1993, he oversaw the demarcation of more than one hundred Indigenous territories—a historic record. Among them, the Yanomami Indigenous Land, one of the largest in the country, stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to securing legal recognition of traditional territories. To this day, no other FUNAI president has safeguarded as many Indigenous lands in such a time.

A steadfast ally of Planète Amazone, Sydney Possuelo appears in the web series Protect the Amazon, where he shares his clear-sighted and deeply human reflections on the challenges facing voluntarily isolated Peoples. He is also a fervent supporter and key witness in the film Amazonia, Heart of Mother Earth, lending his voice and his story to this powerful work devoted to Indigenous rights and forest protection.

By his side, his wife, Rosita Possuelo, was a precious ally. Active behind the scenes of the project, she made a major contribution to the development of the film in Brazil. Tragically, she passed away in 2023, leaving an immense void. The film is dedicated to her memory, in tribute to her quiet yet decisive support.

Today, even in his eighties, Sydney Possuelo continues his work through the Instituto Indigenista Interamericano. His calm but determined voice still carries that of the Peoples whom so many continue to ignore.

A discreet hero and a central figure in the protection of the Amazon, Sydney Possuelo remains unjustly little known internationally. His exceptional contribution to the survival of Indigenous Peoples and the preservation of forests deserves full recognition. A documentary retracing his extraordinary journey and lifelong commitment is currently in development.