Department of History

Luiz Paulo Ferraz is a historian of modern Latin America and Brazil with a particular focus on Indigenous, social, political, and environmental histories. He earned his B.A. and M.A. in History from the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco and a second M.A. in History from Brown University, where he is currently a Ph.D. Candidate. At Brown, he is affiliated with the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative (NAISI), the Graduate Program in Development (GPD), the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), and the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES).

His research examines the intersections of Indigenous and environmental histories during Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964-1985) and its aftermath, with a particular focus on the internationalization of the Indigenous movement and Indigenous peoples’ roles in environmental activism from both national and transnational perspectives. By analyzing the intertwined dynamics of Indigenous struggles and environmental activism from the 1960s to the 21st century, his work uncovers a complex narrative of resistance and empowerment.

His research interests include the history of transnational Indigenous activism, Indigenous knowledge systems and ways of knowing, environmental justice, and the socio-environmental history of the Amazon. Beyond academia, Luiz Paulo coordinates the História ao Ar Livre public history project and co-edits the Brasil por Brazil column for the História da Ditadura website. He is also a co-founder of Brazilian Historians in the United States (BRAHUS), an association of Brazilian scholars and students in the field of History working in the United States.

Read more about Luiz Paulo's research in this spotlight interview.