Elders from Brazil
Ninawa Huni Kui
Ninawa Huni Kui is a prominent Indigenous leader of the Huni Kui (or Kaxinawá) people and the President of the Federation of the Huni Kui People of the State of Acre (FEPHAC) in Brazil. His leadership is defined by a staunch defense of territorial rights, the preservation of ancestral culture, and the protection of the Amazon. Unlike more diplomatic profiles, Ninawa is recognized as a powerful voice of advocacy, speaking out against policies that threaten the survival of original peoples and the integrity of their biomes.
Since 2019, he has maintained a strong presence on the international stage, actively participating in successive UN Climate Change Conferences (from COP25 in Madrid to COP28 in Dubai). In these forums, Ninawa has denounced rising deforestation and the lack of territorial protection, pressuring global leaders to recognize Indigenous peoples not merely as victims of the climate crisis, but as its most effective guardians.
His advocacy work has reached high-level spaces, such as the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Leaders’ Climate Summit convened by the U.S. government. Ninawa promotes solutions based on traditional knowledge and land titling as the most effective strategies for conservation. He also participates in key regional spaces like the Pan-Amazonian Social Forum (FOSPA) to coordinate civil resistance across the entire Amazon basin.
Beyond climate summits, he has conducted extensive tours throughout Europe to meet with parliamentarians, governments, and human rights organizations, seeking international support against political pressures in Brazil. His activism also includes participation before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the OAS, where he has exposed violations against his people’s rights, consolidating his role as a crucial actor in global environmental justice.
Ninawa embodies a grassroots leadership and social mobilization that combines the spirituality of his people with a clear political vision. His approach emphasizes that there can be no climate justice without Indigenous territorial justice. Through university lectures and dialogues with global civil society, he continues to position the struggle of the Huni Kui as an essential battle for the future of the planet's ecological balance.
Tashka Peshaho Yawanawa
Tashka Yawanawa is the pivotal leader of the Yawanawa people in Acre, Brazil. Alongside his wife, leader Laura Yawanawa, he has spearheaded a historical process of cultural renaissance and economic autonomy for his community. Under his guidance, the Yawanawa have moved from invisibility to a remarkable global presence, effectively bridging ancestral Amazonian wisdom with strategic alliances in the worlds of fashion, beauty, and sustainability.
Since 2019, Tashka has established himself as a recurring "Indigenous diplomat" at the World Economic Forum in Davos and various UN summits, including Biodiversity and Climate COPs. His participation goes beyond political activism; he focuses on biocultural economics and spiritual leadership, engaging directly with global leaders to discuss regenerative economic models that respect territorial rights and environmental balance.
A cornerstone of his leadership is the creation of innovative partnerships with the private sector. He has established long-standing collaborations with renowned brands like Aveda and participated in high-fashion events in Paris to promote Indigenous intellectual property. These associations demonstrate that it is possible to ethically integrate traditional knowledge into global markets, turning his community into a success story for territorial management.
Tashka’s influence also reaches the world's most prestigious academic and cultural circles. He has been a guest lecturer at elite institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, and MIT, and his message has resonated in international media outlets like Forbes, Vogue, and National Geographic. Projects like the book Yawanawa: The Spirit of the Forest serve as cultural bridges, bringing the voice of the Amazon to galleries and think tanks in major global capitals.
Distinguished from more confrontational leadership styles, Tashka cultivates a profile of diplomacy and bridge-building. His 21st-century approach balances spirituality with strategic pragmatism, positioning him as a key partner in designing solutions for the climate crisis. His legacy represents a model of Indigenous leadership that utilizes intercultural collaboration to secure a sustainable future for both his people and the planet.