Raoni Metuktire's Personal Staff

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection

Kayapo (Mebêngôkre), Brazilian Amazon.

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DESCRIPTION

A long stick made of natural wood, with an irregular cross-section, preserved in its original, used condition, displaying a uniform patina resulting from prolonged use.

The upper end, slightly bifid and simply shaped, reflects functional craftsmanship aimed at improving the grip. The absence of ornamentation underscores the object’s utilitarian nature, in keeping with Kayapo material culture, where value lies in use rather than decoration.

This staff accompanies the walker’s stride as well as their gestures, contributing to their physical expression and presence.

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CONTEXT AND PRACTICE

Among the Kayapo (Mebêngôkre), the chief’s personal objects do not constitute a codified regalia in the Western sense. The staff is a personal tool, both practical and symbolic.

It is known that Raoni Metuktire carried a different staff on each of his international trips, chosen or used for the duration of the journey.

At the same time, these trips gave rise to diplomatic exchanges, with the chief receiving or presenting various objects during official and cultural gatherings.

In this context, the staff becomes:

• a travel companion,

• a symbol of presence and representation,

• a discreet element of the chief’s identity in public settings.

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ATTRIBUTION AND DOCUMENTATION

This staff is attributed to Raoni Metuktire and is documented by a photograph taken at Place de la Concorde in Paris in 2001, during one of the chief’s international trips.

Photograph by Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, a privileged witness to his tours.

This documentation gives the object special significance:

it is a personal object identified within a specific context, rather than a mere ethnographic type.

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PROVENANCE

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection, assembled during fieldwork and through direct contact with Chief Raoni.

Acquired in this context.

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ANALYSIS

This staff belongs to a category that is rare on the market:

documented personal items associated with a major figure in contemporary history

Contrary to the notion of a single object preserved throughout a lifetime, this item bears witness to a specific moment in Raoni’s international journey, captured in a specific photograph.

Its significance lies in:

• its actual use,

• its contextualization (Paris, 2001),

• its direct provenance,

• and its role in the chief’s travel practices.

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IMPORTANCE

This staff constitutes:

• a material testament to Raoni’s international tours,

• a tangible trace of his presence in Europe,

• an object at the intersection of ethnography and contemporary history.