Célia Xakriabá

Célia Xakriabá is a Brazilian indigenous educator, activist, and politician serving as a member of the Chamber of Deputies representing the state of Minas Gerais. A member of the Xakriabá people, she made history in 2022 as the first indigenous woman elected to the Federal Congress from her state. Her political career is defined by her advocacy for indigenous land rights, the preservation of native languages, and the reform of the Brazilian educational system to better reflect indigenous history and culture. Before her election, she worked as an advisor in the Chamber of Deputies and held a position in the Minas Gerais Department of Education, where she became the first indigenous person to represent indigenous interests within that body. She holds a master's degree in sustainable development from the University of Brasília and is a prominent voice in the contemporary indigenous movement in Brazil.