Ailton Krenak

Who is he?

Philosopher, writer, journalist, and activist from the Krenak people - an indigenous nation in southeast Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais. Across indigenous cultures in Brazil, the members of a community usually use their people's name as a surname as a tool to identification and self-determination. Ailton's birth name is Ailton Alves Lacerda. He was born in 1953 and since 1988 has been the leader of many movements for indigenous rights all over South America.

Significant Achievements

  • Published many books, among which "Ideas to Postpone the End of the World" ("Ideias para adiar o fim do mundo", 2019) and "Tomorrow is Not for Sale" ("O amanhã não está a venda", 2020), where he approaches Krenak philosophy and indigenous knowledge as a way out of the climate crisis;

  • Was invited to serve as a representative of indigenous peoples at the debates on the 1988 Brazilian Constitution, where he covered himself in ritual face painting during a speech;

  • He pleaded for the government of Jair Bolsonaro to be internationally condemned for failing to cut back on mining in indigenous territories in the Amazon as well as in other places in which 'the ecology plays a regulating role of planetary climate;

  • Earned a honorary degree from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora for his work in the Human Sciences.

Bibliography