In a landmark event held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil celebrated the return of a sacred indigenous cloak that had been housed at a Danish museum for more than 300 years. The 1.8-meter-long cloak, adorned with 4,000 red feathers from the scarlet ibis, was unveiled in the presence of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Originally taken from the Tupinambá people during the Portuguese colonial era, the cloak had been displayed in Copenhagen since 1689. Its return highlights the ongoing efforts to honor and preserve indigenous heritage and ancestral lands.
The ceremony drew a large gathering of 200 Tupinambá people, who camped outside the venue with drums and pipes filled with medicinal herbs, eager to see the cherished artifact. Yakuy Tupinambá, who traveled over 1,200 kilometers from Olivenca, expressed his profound emotions, stating, “I felt sadness and joy. A mixture between being born and dying.”
Indigenous chief Sussu Arana Morubyxada Tupinambá reflected on the cloak’s significance, noting, “Our ancestors say that when they [the Europeans] took it away, our village was left without a north.”
While the return of this cloak is a significant milestone, several other sacred Tupinambá capes, dating back to the 16th century, remain in European museums. The Tupinambá leadership views the cloak’s return as a crucial step toward acknowledging indigenous rights and reclaiming their cultural heritage.
President Lula, who has previously advocated for indigenous land rights, reiterated his opposition to restrictions on land claims. Despite his veto of a bill that sought to limit such claims, the National Congress overruled him, and the issue is now under consideration by the Federal Supreme Court. Lula reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the constitutional rights of indigenous peoples.
The Tupinambá community continues to face challenges as their mineral-rich lands are threatened by large-scale agriculture and mining operations. The return of the cloak symbolizes a broader movement towards recognizing and protecting indigenous heritage and rights.