O Museu do Índio (English: The Museum of the Indigenous Populations) is a cultural and scientific agency of the Fundação Nacional dos Povos Indígenas (English: National Foundation of Indigenous Populations) or FUNAI. It was created by Darcy Ribeiro, in the city of

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

in 1953. As the only official institution in Brazil exclusively dedicated to

indigenous cultures There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples, although in the 21st century the focus has been on self-identification, cultural difference from other groups in a state, a special relationship with their traditional territ ...

(the people known as ''povos indígenas'' in Portuguese), the

museum A museum is an institution dedicated to displaying or Preservation (library and archive), preserving culturally or scientifically significant objects. Many museums have exhibitions of these objects on public display, and some have private colle ...

has the objective of promoting an accurate and updated image for the indigenous cause, while avoiding common misconceptions and prejudice of these societies.

Collections

The rich collection of the museum, which includes most of the present-day indigenous societies, is composed of 14,000

ethnography Ethnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. It explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study. Ethnography is also a type of social research that involves examining ...

parts. In the Marechal Rondon

Library A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...

, 16,000 national and foreign publications specialized in

ethnology Ethnology (from the , meaning 'nation') is an academic field and discipline that compares and analyzes the characteristics of different peoples and the relationships between them (compare cultural, social, or sociocultural anthropology). Sci ...

and other related areas, plus 50,000 images in diverse environments, including 3,000 digital photographs on

CD-ROM A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains computer data storage, data computers can read, but not write or erase. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold b ...

, about 200

films A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of Visual arts, visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are gen ...

, videos, and

sound recordings Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, Mechanical system, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of ...

, as well as 500,000 documents of historical value relating to various indigenous groups and their political situation in Brazil from the end of 19th century to the present. In the eleven rooms of the main building, the Museu do Índio organizes the temporary showing of samples of

painting Painting is a Visual arts, visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or "Support (art), support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with ...

s and photos using the collection storied in its archives. In the gardens of the institution there are five different environments, including a Guarani fazenda, a Xingu kitchen and ritual house for the Xingu Quarup (also spelled "Kuarup").

History

In 1978, the museum was moved to an old

mansion A mansion is a large dwelling house. The word itself derives through Old French from the Latin word ''mansio'' "dwelling", an abstract noun derived from the verb ''manere'' "to dwell". The English word ''manse'' originally defined a property l ...

built in the era of the 1880s, in the

Botafogo Botafogo (local/standard alternative Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: ) is a beachfront neighborhood (''bairro'') in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a mostly upper middle class and small commerce community, and is located between the hills of M ...

district. It had been originally constructed by João Rodrigues Teixeira, an entrepreneur involved in the

food industry The food industry is a complex, global network of diverse businesses that supplies most of the food consumed by the world's population. The food industry today has become highly diversified, with manufacturing ranging from small, traditional, ...

of Rio de Janeiro. Constructed by Teixeita as his family residence, the mansion house is registered by the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional or IPHAN (English: National Institute of Historic and Artistic Sites). The architectural style of its construction is quite representative of this period of urban growth. In March 2013, police stormed the site of the previous museum building that once housed Brazil’s first Indian Museum. The objective was to end a standoff with more than 20 indigenous protesters who had squatted for years in an adjacent structure.

Museum of the Indian Friends Society

Sociedade Amigos do Museu do Índio (SAMI) is a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

with the objective of bringing the museum together with the public. SAMI develops projects which originate from the Brazilian indigenous cultures. It makes acquisitions of artifacts and collections, with the intention of preserving the culture of indigenous traditions. It promotes educational courses, seminaries, and other social and cultural events. Individuals and corporations that propose to help the society can be an associate in one of three categories: partner, contributor, or child benefactor. SAMI also accepts new memberships, as well as ideas, suggestions, and volunteers that will increase and ensure support for the scientific and cultural activities of the museum. This includes disseminating an accurate, current image of indigenous peoples without preconceptions.

Controversy with Lille Natural History Museum

In 2003, a large exhibit of Brazilian native artifacts was planned in the city of Lille as part of the Celebrations of the Year of Brazil in France, that would take place in 2005. 611 objects were to be displayed in France. In order to allow the objects to legally leave the country, given their condition as heritage, Lille Natural History Museum bought the objects, immediately donating them to the Museu do Índio, thus securing the right to loan the objects for five years, renewable for another five years. In 2009, having received no notice that there was intent to renew the loan, the Museu do Indio asked for their restitution. Representatives of the Lille Natural History Museum refused to do so, alleging that the objects were now part of the heritage of the city of Lille. The objects were not displayed in the Museum after 2009. After a legal battle that lasted over a decade, the objects were set to be returned in 2023. The Brazilian government agreeing to pay for the transportation costs, which, according to the original contract, should have been paid by the French Museum. Historian Juarez da Silva has criticised Lille Natural History Museum as having a colonialist mentality, saying that they are holding to "ideas that such objects cannot be preserved and valued in their own countries" and that the cultural heritage of countries deemed as "exotic" is still very much seen as "up for grabs".

Indian Art Store (Loja Artíndia)

The Loja Artíndia of the museum is one of the seven Artíndia Stores of FUNAI, which are maintained by the Artíndia Program. In these stores, arts and crafts acquired directly from the indigenous communities are sold. This guarantees these communities a source of revenue, and stimulates them to maintain their standard of culture. In addition, the store sells thematic

book A book is a structured presentation of recorded information, primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium. Originally physical, electronic books and audiobooks are now existent. Physical books are objects that contain printed material, ...

T-shirts A T-shirt (also spelled tee shirt, or tee for short) is a style of fabric shirt named after the T shape of its body and sleeves. Traditionally, it has short sleeves and a round neckline, known as a '' crew neck'', which lacks a collar. T-shir ...

, CDs and CD-ROMs.

Location and hours

The museum is located at Rua das Palmeiras, 55, in the district of

. There is no parking for visitors, as this is reserved for employees, SAMI members, volunteers and maintenance. Hours are Tuesday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, (closed Mondays except for school groups); Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 1 pm to 5pm (exhibit areas and art store only, as the library and other research areas are closed on weekends).

References

External links

Official site of the Museu do Índio
( Portuguese only) {{DEFAULTSORT:Museu Do Indio Indigenous peoples in Brazil History museums in Brazil Museums in Rio de Janeiro (city) Ethnographic museums in South America Native American museums