In Rio de Janeiro, the Tupinambá people celebrated the return of a sacred cloak that had been absent for about 380 years. The cloak, made of feathers from the scarlet ibis and originally from northeastern Brazil, was housed in Copenhagen until the Danish National Museum generously donated it back to Brazil. The event was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Indigenous Peoples Minister Sonia Guajajara at Brazil’s National Museum in Boa Vista Park.
The Tupinambá embarked on a 28-hour journey from Bahia to the museum to partake in rituals and prayers with the cloak, considering it a living ancestor rather than just an object. The emotional reunion with the cloak, which was central to their ceremonies, was described as a moving experience by Jamopoty Tupinambá, one of the group’s leaders.
The nearly four-feet-tall cloak was taken by the Dutch from Brazil around 1644, and it had been in the Danish National Museum for 335 years. The process of securing its return began when Jamopoty’s mother, Amotara Tupinambá, saw it in an exhibition in Sao Paulo in 2000. Inspired by the encounter, efforts to bring the cloak back gained momentum, culminating in its triumphant return to Brazil.
The repatriation of the cloak was a meticulous operation involving coordination between various authorities and Tupinambá leaders to ensure the delicate feathers were not damaged. Notably, this marks the first time an Indigenous artifact of such importance has been repatriated to Brazil, signifying a potential for more donations or repatriations in the future.
The return of the cloak comes at a critical time when Indigenous groups in Brazil are fighting for their land rights and territories. Despite President Lula’s government’s efforts to establish a ministry for Indigenous peoples and defend their rights, challenges remain, with Indigenous Peoples Minister Guajajara expressing the need for more demarcated territories for Indigenous peoples like the Tupinambá.
The Tupinambá are advocating for their land to be officially recognized as an Indigenous reserve, and Brazil’s justice ministry is currently reviewing their request. For the Tupinambá, the return of the cloak symbolizes a resurgence of strength in their quest for territorial demarcation and recognition.
