Among the many cultural projects undertaken by FINK, both within Brazil and abroad, one stands out for its immense historical significance: the repatriation of the Tupinambá Cloak to Brazilian soil. After more than three centuries in Denmark, FINK was honored to oversee the logistics for its return.
The Tupinambá Cloak, measuring approximately 1.20 meters in height and 80 centimeters in width, is considered a sacred object by the Tupinambá people. Believed to have been taken to Europe around 1644 by Dutch explorers, the cloak is made primarily of scarlet ibis feathers, along with plumes from parrots and blue-and-yellow macaws. Traditionally, it was stored in a leather trunk and used in spiritual rituals.
Preserved by the National Museum of Denmark since 1689—along with four other similar artifacts—the cloak represents an ancestral figure and serves as a medium for spiritual communication. For the Tupinambá people, it symbolizes prosperity, peace, and divine messages, as well as the preservation of their land, culture, and rituals. It also stands as a powerful emblem of resistance in the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights, particularly in opposition to the “Marco Temporal” policy.
The return of the Tupinambá Cloak marks the restoration of dignity, ancestry, and history to a people whose path was tragically disrupted by colonization. It highlights the resilience of Tupinambá culture and emphasizes the critical importance of safeguarding their traditions.
