Nevertheless, Lula’s third term began with bold symbolic actions: a restart of the land demarcation process, the unprecedented appointment of an Indigenous woman to head the National Indigenous Foundation (FUNAI), and the creation of a Ministry of Indigenous Peoples. These three decisions directly reflect the requests made by Chief Raoni Metuktire in a letter drafted from his village of Metuktire, following an on-camera interview for Amazonia, Heart of Mother Earth. In the film, Raoni shares the deeper context behind that message: hopes for the future, but also painful memories — including the Belo Monte dam, which remains a symbol of betrayal for many. The letter was hand-delivered to Lula by the film’s directors during a filmed meeting in Brasília in May 2022. Whether it reinforced an existing political direction or helped reignite a fading connection, the fact remains: within months, the requested measures began to materialize.

This renewed relationship took on a highly public dimension on January 1, 2023, during the presidential inauguration. As Lula ascended the ramp of the Palácio do Planalto, he was joined by a symbolic group of representatives — with Chief Raoni Metuktire standing as the sole Indigenous figure. Together, they walked to the top where the presidential sash was bestowed upon Lula. The image — broadcast around the world — signaled a long-awaited reconciliation, without erasing the scars of the past.

Yet, no reconciliation, however powerful, can replace the need for accountability and vigilance. In April 2025, when President Lula visited the village of Piaraçu to award Chief Raoni the National Order of Merit, the chief used the moment to firmly express his opposition to oil exploration in the Amazon delta. A powerful gesture, reminding all that trust must be earned through action, not amnesia.

In Amazonia, the Heart of Mother Earth, the exchange between these two historic figures — one a head of state, the other a guardian of the forest — becomes a moment of respectful confrontation, charged with memory and expectation. Lula’s exclusive interview, woven throughout the film, reveals a man aware of both the constraints of politics and the responsibility he bears in protecting the Amazon and recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples. A moment of truth — where history, accountability, and hope meet.