[restitution matters]

Sacred Indigenous cloak returned to Brazil by Danish museum

ARTnews
13 Sep 2024
Brazil
Denmark
RM* 22 Nov 2024

A sacred cloak that had been in the holdings of the National Museum of Denmark for more than 300 years was returned to Indigenous leaders in Brazil. The nearly six-foot-long cloak was constructed using 4,000 scarlet ibis feathers. It was taken from the Tupinambá people during Portuguese colonial rule.

Since 1698, it has been on display in Copenhagen. The cloak was unveiled at an official ceremony in Rio de Janeiro that was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and indigenous leaders, as well as 200 Tupinambá people.

Though the Brazilian president has pledged to recognize indigenous land reserves, the Tupinambás’ territory has yet to be formally demarcated by the government. According to the Tupinambás, the territory has been overrun by agriculture and mining businesses.