Sônia Guajajara | |
|---|---|
 Guajajara atCOP30 in 2025 | |
| Minister of Indigenous Peoples | |
| Assumed office 1 January 2023 | |
| President | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sônia Bone de Souza Silva Santos (1974-03-06)6 March 1974 (age 51) |
| Political party | PSOL (2011–present) |
| Other political affiliations | PT (2000–2011) |
| Alma mater | State University of Maranhão (BLitt,BSN) |
Sônia Bone de Souza Silva Santos (born 6 March 1974), usually known asSônia Guajajara, is a Brazilianindigenous activist, environmentalist, nurse and politician. A member of theSocialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), she was initially a candidate forPresident of Brazil in the2018 Brazilian general election, before being chosen as the vice presidentialrunning mate of nomineeGuilherme Boulos. This made her the first indigenous person to run for a federal executive position in Brazil.[1][2] In 2022, Guajajara was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world byTime.[3]
Sônia Guajajara was born to aGuajajara family on Araribóia Indigenous Land (Portuguese:Terra Indígena Araribóia), located in theAmazonianrainforest in thenortheastern state ofMaranhão. At the age of 15, she left home at the invitation ofFUNAI and moved toMinas Gerais, where she completed her initial education at an agricultural boarding school.[4]
Guajajara became interested in politics at a very young age, and stated, "I was born an activist. I’ve spent my whole life fighting against anonymity, against indigenous peoples’ invisibility. I always wanted to find a path, a way to bring the history and way of life of the indigenous people to light for society as a whole."
Guajajara would later attend theFederal University of Maranhão, located in the state capital ofSão Luís.[5] Guajajara additionally holds a master’s degree in culture and society from the Institute of Humanities, Arts, and Culture at theFederal University of Bahia. Following graduation, Guajajara worked in a variety of professions, including as a teacher and as a nurse.[6]
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Guajajara is the leader of theArticulação dos Povos Indígenas do Brasil (Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, or "APIB"), an organization that represents around 300 indigenous ethnic groups in Brazil.[2]
As an activist, she has been at odds with theruralistas in theNational Congress, a group of conservative legislators allied withagribusiness interests who favor further development on public lands.[7]
Guajajara strongly opposes efforts to contactuncontacted peoples in the Amazon Rainforest.[8] Guajajara has described PresidentJair Bolsonaro as "a threat to the planet" due to hisdeforestation policies.[9] In 2020, she called for urgent environmental action amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.[10]
During her time as an activist, she has organized a number of demonstrations in support of indigenous rights in Brazil, and facilitated a meeting of indigenous leaders with then-PresidentDilma Rousseff in 2013.[11] In 2015, she was named to the BrazilianOrdem do Mérito Cultural.[2] She was also awarded a medal by Maranhão state.[citation needed]
In March 2022 she was amongst 151 international feminists signingFeminist Resistance Against War: A Manifesto, in solidarity with the RussianFeminist Anti-War Resistance.[12][n. 1]
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Guajajara became a member of theWorkers' Party (PT), the left-wing party that ruled Brazil from 2003 to 2016, in 2000. In 2011, Guajajara left the party due to its alliance withRoseana Sarney, a conservative politician who served as Governor of her home state of Maranhão.[16] She later joined theSocialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), a socialist party initially founded by PT dissidents.
In the run-up to the2014 presidential election, Guajajara criticized the presidency ofDilma Rousseff in an interview, stating that the "Dilma government was very bad for us".[17] In the same interview, she also cautioned against the election of a right-wingBrazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) to the presidency. Despite her misgivings, Guajajara denounced theimpeachment of Dilma Rousseff that led to the installation ofMichel Temer as President, describing it as a "coup".[16]
In 2018, Guajajara announced her intention to run forPresident of Brazil as a member of PSOL. Her candidacy was backed by the support of theecosocialist wing of the party.[18] In the end, she was chosen by labor leaderGuilherme Boulos to serve as his vice presidentialrunning mate on the PSOL ticket.[19] Guajajara was the first indigenous person to run for a federal executive office in Brazil.[1][2]
Guajajara was confirmed as a pre-candidate forfederal deputy in the2022 Brazilian general election.[20] She was elected with 156,966 votes.[21] In January 2023, PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva appointed Guajajara to lead theMinistry of Indigenous Peoples.[22][23] She was sworn in on 11 January 2023.[24]
At theU.N. climate summit held in Brazil in 2025, Guajajara helped to ensure that about 400 Indigenous representatives were able to participate in the official Blue Zone where negotiations were conducted and plenary sessions, among other events, were held, and thousands more from all over the world were present in other areas.[25]
In November 2023, Guajajara was named to theBBC's100 Women list, which features 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.[26]
Media related toSônia Guajajara at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
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| Office created | Minister of Indigenous People 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Jorge Paz | PSOL nominee forVice President of Brazil 2018 | Most recent |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
