Who was Luiz Lana, the indigenous writer who immortalised the Desana mythology
24 de March de 2025
By Letícia Misna – From Cenarium
MANAUS (AM) – Luiz Gomes Lana, known as Tolamãn Kenhíri, an indigenous writer recognised for documenting the mythology of the Desana people, an ethnicity to which he belonged, passed away this Saturday, the 22nd, at the age of 77. His legacy includes the work Antes o Mundo Não Existia, published in 1980, considered a classic of Brazilian anthropology.
Luiz Lana was born in 1947 in the Indigenous Territory (TI) of the São João Batista do Rio Tiquié community, located in the Alto Rio Negro, in the interior of Amazonas. Throughout his life, he became an important indigenous leader in the region.
In 1990, he founded the Union of Indigenous Nations of the Rio Tiquié (Unirt), which, in addition to the Desana, was composed of the Tukano, Bará, and Barasana peoples. The main objective of the organisation was to defend the indigenous people of the region and, in general, to protect them from any violation of their rights and interests, as well as to cooperate with the authorities in all matters concerning their welfare and interests.
Unirt was affiliated with the Federation of Indigenous Organisations of the Rio Negro (Foirn), which Lana also helped to establish. In a statement of mourning on social media, the institution recalled that the writer’s dedication to transmitting traditional knowledge marked a new era in valuing indigenous oral traditions, ensuring that their stories, myths, and ancestral knowledge were recognised and respected worldwide.
“Beyond his intellectual and artistic contributions, Luiz Lana played an essential role in the political and cultural organisation of the indigenous peoples of the Rio Negro. As one of the founders of Foirn and president of Unirt, he worked tirelessly to strengthen the autonomy of communities. His commitment to cultural preservation was also reflected in the creation of the Maloca-Museum, a space dedicated to educating new generations. Tolamãn Kenhíri lives on the other side of life, invisible to the eyes but eternally present in our memories,” Foirn published.
The Movement of Indigenous Students of Amazonas (Meiam) also lamented the passing of Luiz Lana, recalling that the organisation is “the result of the reflections that our relative built in Alto Rio Negro.” “Luiz Lana leaves behind an inspiring legacy of resistance for our struggles as indigenous academics. May his memory continue to inspire us!” the organisation declared.
In a comment on the mourning statement published by the Movement of Indigenous Students of Amazonas (Meiam) on the social media platform Instagram, the indigenous leader and writer Ailton Krenak spoke about the death of Tolamãn Kenhíri, celebrating the privilege of having known him in life.
“A master who left his legacy in many forms, such as drawings and texts, and an oral tradition that resonates in the works of other authors and researchers, both within and beyond his Amazonas. I join those who had the joy and privilege of knowing Tolamãn Kenhíri, in gratitude for his life among us, Luiz Lana. Enchanted,” he declared.
The World
In 1980, Luiz Lana published Antes o Mundo Não Existia, which he co-wrote with his father, Firminano Arantes Lana, or Umúsin Panlõn Kumu, who had already passed away. It was Berta Ribeiro—an important anthropologist who worked for the indigenous cause and published scientific articles with Tolamãn Kenhíri—who typed and revised the book, which was originally handwritten in a notebook by Luiz.
The book, considered the first published by indigenous authors in Brazil, is a collection of mythical narratives of the Desana people, described through texts and drawings over more than 200 pages. The work has been translated into other languages, such as Italian and Spanish, and is still revered to this day.
A documentary about his work was being produced in recent months, but there is no release date yet. “Now, he follows his journey in the canoe of transformation,” declared those responsible for the production.
Tolamãn Kenhíri is survived by his wife, Catarina Castro, from the Tukano people, and five children. The cause of death was not disclosed.