The Katxuyana and Kahyana peoples of Pará are rediscovering part of their history by revisiting ethnographic collections held at the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi and the British Museum. Many of these objects have been kept outside Indigenous territories for nearly a century. Now, they are being seen, interpreted, and reimagined by their original creators and descendants.
To expand Indigenous presence in the shaping of museum narratives, the project builds bridges between Amazonian communities and cultural institutions in Brazil and the United Kingdom. It was conceived by the Katxuyana, Tunayana, and Kahyana Indigenous Association (AIKATUK) and carried out by the Instituto Iepé in partnership with the Santo Domingo Centre of Excellence for Latin American Research at the British Museum.
With a decolonial approach, the project includes a workshop held in Indigenous lands, where artifacts are digitally revisited and given new interpretations. It also features the co-curation of objects to be displayed in a temporary exhibition at the Museu Goeldi and in the upcoming Americas Gallery at the British Museum in London. Additional activities include hybrid roundtables and the launch of a bilingual digital book.
The initiative is led by a diverse team, composed mainly of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women – including anthropologists, biologists, historians, and keepers of traditional knowledge. The goal is to highlight Indigenous leadership in interpreting their cultural heritage, strengthen collective belonging, and contribute to the global conversation on the decolonization of Indigenous collections held by museums.
*The Yana and the Museums was selected through the UK-Brazil Season of Culture open call.