Candido Rondon

Cândido Rondon was a Brazilian explorer, engineer and indigenist who devoted his life to the exploration and protection of the indigenous peoples of Brazil. He was born on May 5, 1865, in Mimoso, Mato Grosso, to a family of mixed Portuguese, Spanish and indigenous ancestry. He joined the army at the age of 16 and graduated from the Military School of Rio de Janeiro as an engineer. He was assigned to the Telegraphic Commission, which was responsible for building telegraph lines across the vast and uncharted Brazilian territory. He led several expeditions that mapped and connected regions such as Mato Grosso, Amazonas, Rondônia and Acre. He also established contact with many indigenous tribes, some of which had never seen a white man before. He adopted a pacifist and respectful approach towards the natives, and defended their rights and cultures. He founded the Indian Protection Service (SPI) in 1910, which later became the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI). He also supported the creation of the Xingu National Park, the first indigenous reserve in Brazil. He was honored with many awards and titles, such as the Combat Cross, the David Livingstone Centenary Medal, the Explorers Club Medal, the Order of Columbus and the Marshal rank. He also collaborated with famous explorers such as Theodore Roosevelt, Roquette Pinto and Alberto Rondon. He died on January 19, 1958, in Rio de Janeiro, at the age of 92. He left a legacy of scientific, cultural and humanitarian contributions, and is considered one of the greatest Brazilians of all time.