When Indigenous people encounter the museum

reflections from the reconstruction of the Kuahi Museum of the Indigenous Peoples of Oiapoque - AP

Abstract

We analyzed the case of the Kuahi Museum of the Indigenous Peoples of Oiapoque to discuss intersections between museum practices and indigenous struggles. In Oiapoque, the different cultures of the Galibi Marworno, Galibi Kali'na, Palikur, and Karipuna are present in the Museum, which was created in 2007 to house goods and produce exhibitions that did justice to the richness of these peoples. As a platform for communication between the peoples, the Museum represented a victory in the indigenous peoples' struggle for valorization. Closed since 2014 due to its physical degradation and government abandonment, new and old leaders are now organizing for its reopening. In this moment of enthusiasm, the Kuahi Museum is prominent among the organizations in the territory, serving as a channel for meetings and a catalyst for demands. With this case study based on participant observation and interviews, we believe that, in Kuahi, the museum is used as an instrument for indigenous struggles for justice and recognition.