The Tupinamba people of Brazil are eagerly awaiting the official return of a sacred cloak that was taken from them during colonial times, after a 335-year wait. The artifact has been kept at the National Museum of Denmark since 1689 and will be presented in Rio de Janeiro in a ceremony attended by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday.
This return of the ceremonial cloak is part of Brazil’s diplomatic efforts to recover Indigenous objects from various museums around the world, including France and Japan.
The cloak, measuring just under 1.8 meters (6 feet) high and adorned with red feathers from the scarlet ibis bird, arrived back in Rio in early July and is currently being stored at the national museum.
Yakuy Tupinamba, a member of the tribe, expressed a mix of emotions upon seeing the artifact after a long journey to Rio. He described feeling both sadness and joy, comparing it to being born and dying at the same time.
Additionally, there are demands for territorial demarcation by the Tupinamba people, who are camping near the museum grounds. They are advocating for the recognition of over 47,000 hectares where thousands of families rely on fishing and farming for their livelihood, while facing threats from large agriculture and mining companies.
The symbolic return of the cloak holds significance for the Tupinamba people and is seen as a step towards protecting their territory and natural resources from devastation caused by deforestation and mining activities.
Despite the return of the cloak and promises made by the government, challenges such as wildfires and climate change continue to impact the region, including the Amazon rainforest.
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